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Alternate names: 水门 shuǐ mén, Water Gate; 水天 shuǐ tiān, Water Heaven

Channel: ST, foot yáng brightness (yáng míng) stomach channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the anterior aspect of the neck, at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid (scm) muscle, midway between ST-9 (rén yíng) and ST-11 (qì shè).

Classical location: In front of the major sinew of the neck, directly below Man’s Prognosis (ST-9) and above Qì Abode (ST-11). From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The common carotid artery. Superficially, the cutaneous cervical nerve; deeper, the superior cardiac nerve that issues from the sympathetic nerve and the sympathetic trunk.

Action: Rectifies lung qì and disinhibits the throat.

Modern indications: Painful swollen throat; cough; panting.

Classical indications: Cough and counterflow qì ascent; shortness of breath.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.5 cùn perpendicular insertion. See ST-9 (rén yíng) for precautions for avoiding the artery. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 5‒15 min.

Point name meaning:

• 水 shuǐ: water
• 突 tú: prominence, to protrude; sudden, abrupt; splash

The pulsation of the carotid artery at this point resembles the gentle splash of water. The point name may thus reflect the feel of the point when palpated. When liquids are swallowed, this point protrudes; thus, a rendering as Water Protrusion is also possible.

The name may also be indicative of a function of the point in the treatment of phlegm-rheum counterflow qì ascent. The use of the character 水 (shuǐ) in the name of this point may be considered as a representation of phlegm-rheum, while 突 (tú) can be taken to refer to counterflow qì. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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