天窗 (Tiānchuāng) — Celestial Window
Small Intestine channel · point 16
Traditionally used for
- Ears & hearing
- Nose & throat
- Mood & calm
- Pain & joints
Cautions & contraindications
- No deep needling
- Avoid blood vessels
Location
On the anterolateral neck, on the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid, level with the superior border of the thyroid cartilage; level with ST9 and LI18.
How to locate: Turn the patient's head to the opposite side against resistance to bring out sternocleidomastoid; the point is on its posterior border, level with the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, with LI18 and ST9 on the same level further forward.
Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.
3D view
3D view not available for this point: its position on the 3D model couldn't be checked against its location text, so it is not shown. The 2D maps above show it.
Needling
Cited needling
-
Perpendicular insertionDepth 0.5–0.8 cunskindeeper
Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.
Sources (1)
- Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 244 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
- No deep needling
- Avoid blood vessels
Functions
- Expels wind and heat
- Benefits the ears, throat and voice
- Calms the spirit
Indications
Similar Points
Sources
- World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
- Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)
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