Lung Point 9 Taiyuan: Great Abyss

Lung point 9 has a number of important properties:

• Shu-stream point: so can be used to treat the lung organ
• Yuan source point
• Earth Point (tonification point)
• Hui-Meeting point for the Blood Vessels

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This page is all technical stuff, mainly useful to acupuncture students, and also to the author, to remind him of stuff he’s forgotten. If you’re interested in learning more about acupuncture and the ideas behind it, click here for something more appropriate.

Location of Lung Point 9 Taiyuan

In the wrist crease on the anterior forearm between the radial bone and the first metacarpal bone, between the radial artery and the tendon of abductor pollicis longus – the tendon that abducts the thumb.

Needling

Insert needles into Lung Point 9 perpendicular to the skin. Depth? – 0.25 cun is usually enough but in some people can be up to 0.5 cun.

When needling this point, some acupuncturists find the radial pulse, then press laterally to it with a fingernail to push it away (ie medially) as the needle penetrates. I’ve never needed to do this, however, because it’s quite hard to penetrate the artery wall, and the point is usually easy to find just medial to the abductor pollicis longus.

Needling Sensation

Lung point 9 produces a heavy aching sensation deep within the wrist joint, spreading out from the tip of the needle.

Actions of Lung Point 9: Taiyuan

• Tonifies, circulates and supports Lung qi and Lung Yin
• Stimulates the descending function of the Lung
• Eliminates Wind and by regulating qi, transforms phlegm: stops cough
• Harmonises excess Stomach qi
• Steadies and harmonises the (100) Blood vessels

Indications and Comment for Lung Point 9

Because of the various actions of this point, the origin of the Lung channel in the epigastrium and stomach, the relationship between the lung and the heart in the Upper Jiao, and its relationship with the Large Intestine channel and zang, we can divide its actions into various groups.

However, please realise that in many cases the nature of the symptom means that it could be classified in several ways. Also, it would be wonderful to be able to ascribe complete healing of all the following symptoms to Lung point 9 alone, but in practice few acupuncturists would risk it: they’d use other points to back it up, depending on the exact diagnosis.

Duplication below is on purpose, and not intended to be complete.

Tonifies Lung qi and Lung Yin

• Rebellious Lung qi: cough
• Sighing and yawning
• Shortness of breath and wheezing: asthma with much watery phlegm.
• Lung point 9 is the best point on the Lung channel for conditions with Cold and cold Mucus (for more on this see our page on Lung Phlegm Fluids). Most other Lung channel points are better for clearing heat but as this point circulates Lung qi, and affects Water as well, being the main point on the channel to do so, this makes if often an excellent point for Cold conditions: it’s not that this clears Cold by introducing Yang, but by circulating qi and fluids – more like a Heat Exchanger Pump than a Fire. (However, use Lung 7 Lieque to clear an invasion of exterior Wind-Cold.)
• Feeling of fullness and oppression in the chest
• Shivering and panting with cold
• Oedema of the face
• Breathing difficulty when lying: can’t lie flat

Stimulates the descending function of the Lung

• Sighing and yawning
• Shortness of breath and wheezing
• Breathing difficulty when lying: so can’t lie flat
• Asthma: can’t catch breath 
• Rebellious Stomach qi: belching, hiccups
• Difficulty urinating

Lung point 9 and Lung qi

• Frequent tiredness; needs to pause often to catch breath when talking, walking or climbing (eg stairs)
• Numbness of chest
• Asthma 
• Much watery phlegm
• Breathing difficulty when lying
• Asthma: can’t catch breath 
• In chronic conditions, of Lung qi deficiency, one would certainly use other points as well, such as Stomach 36, or Conception Vessel points 12 or 17)