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TB-19 Skull Rest
颅息 〔顱息〕 lú xī
Alternate names: 颅囟 lú xìn, Skull
Channel: TB, hand lesser yáng (shào yáng) triple burner channel
Modern location: An acupoint located on the lateral aspect of the head, posterior to the helix of the ear, in the depression two-thirds of the distance around the arc formed by connecting TB-17 and TB-20.
Classical location: Between the cyan network vessels behind the ear. From
Local anatomy: The posterior auricular artery and vein. The anastomotic branch of the great auricular nerve and the lesser occipital nerve.
Action: Courses wind and quickens the network vessels; frees the channels and relieves pain; quiets the spirit and settles fright.
Modern indications: Headache; tinnitus; deafness; child fright wind.
Classical indications: Head wind; fright and fear; insomnia; chest and rib-side pain preventing the patient from turning sides;
Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.1‒0.3 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 5‒10 min.
Point name meaning:
In classical Chinese 息 (xī) can mean to rest
and fullness
or stuffiness.
Thus, this name could be a reference to an ability to calm the spirit (i.e., allow it to rest), thereby treating fright, spasms, epilepsy, and fright palpitations; or it could be a reference to the treatment of clouded head and stuffiness.
It may also be that the point name is a way of indicating the location of the point; when lying on one’s side, the skull rests on the pillow at this point.
Given that the character 息 (xī) can also mean breath,
the name could also be rendered as Skull’s Breath. This would be justified because
Finally, the ear is where the head receives news (消息 xiāo xī), suggesting the translation Skull News. See