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TE15

Tianliao

Star

天髎 (Tiānliáo) — Celestial Bone-Hole

Triple Energiser channel · point 15

Not yet clinically reviewed

Meeting point of the Triple Energiser and Gallbladder channels with the Yang Wei Mai

Traditionally used for

  • Colds & fever
  • Pain & joints

Cautions & contraindications

  • No deep needling

Location

On the upper back, in the depression just above the superior angle of the scapula, midway between GB21 and SI13.

How to locate: With the patient seated and the arms hanging, find GB21 at the top of the shoulder and SI13 above the medial end of the scapular spine; the point is midway between them, in the depression just above the superior angle of the scapula.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, front: TE15 · Upper back
Fig. — TE15 · Upper back After Albinus, 1747
Body map, front: TE15 · Upper back

TE15 · Upper back · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

The vertebral column — Gray's Anatomy plate
The vertebral column Gray's Anatomy, 1918
The vertebral column — Gray's Anatomy plate

The vertebral column · Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position can't be carried onto the 3D model reliably (it failed a placement check). The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

  1. Oblique insertion — directed according to the clinical manifestations
    Depth 0.5–1 cun
    skindeeper

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)
  1. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 406 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

  • No deep needling
Depth: 0.5–0.8 cun
Angle: Perpendicular
⚠ Cautions: Do not needle deeply — pneumothorax risk.

Functions

  • Expels wind-damp
  • Activates the channel and relieves pain of the neck and shoulder
  • Unbinds the chest

Indications

Shoulder and neck pain and stiffnesspain of the scapulafever without sweating

Similar Points

Tianchong how are these connected? (Tianchong) Tianchi how are these connected? (Tianchi) Tianding how are these connected? (Tianding)

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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