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POINT: SP-17 (SPLEEN-17)

NAME: SHIDOU

English: Food Cavity
Also Known As: Food's Cavity
Food Drain

LOCATION:

  • On the lateral side of the chest, in the fifth intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the midline.
    Note: the 6 cun line is located 2 cun lateral to the mamillary line.
  • In the fifth intercostal space, 5 cun lateral to the midsternal line.

NEEDLING:

  • Transverse-oblique insertion along the intercostal space, 0.5 to 1 cun.
  • Caution: perpendicular insertion, especially in thin patients, carries a substantial risk of inducing a pneumothorax.
  • Slanted insertion, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
  • Caution: avoid deep insertion.
  • Puncture obliquely 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
  • Moxibustion is applicable.

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

ACTIONS:

  • Dissipates accumulation of food and Fluid
  • Promotes digestion

INDICATIONS:

  • Fullness of the chest and lateral costal region
  • Ceaseless pain of the lateral costal region
  • Abdominal distention
  • Water swelling of the abdomen
  • Borborygmus
  • Swelling of the breasts
  • Jaundice
  • Ascites
  • Retention of urine
  • Esophageal pain
  • Pain of the diaphragm
  • Belching
  • Vomiting immediately after eating
  • Undigested food in the stool
  • Cough
  • Chronic Spleen malaria
  • Intercostal neuralgia
  • Gastritis
  • Fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondriac region

COMBINATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

NOTES:

  • It is said that in severe diseases, when life is hanging by a thread, 200 to 300 moxa cones on this point will insure the patient's survival.
  • Use this point in any major Spleen disease.