ACUPUNCTURE
Di Cang: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Di Cang (Dicang)
Location
0.4 cun lateral to the corner of the mouth, directly below the pupil of the eye when the eyes are looking straight ahead. Note: this point lies in the continuation of the nasolabial groove; ask the patient to smile if the groove is not visible.
Needling
- Puncture subcutaneously 1 to 1.5 cun with the tip of the needle directed towards ST-6 Jiache.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
- Transverse insertion.
- For facial paralysis, this point may be joined to ST-6 Jiache, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- For trigeminal neuralgia, join to LI-20 Yingxiang, 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness or pain, either locally or throughout the side of the face.
- Transverse insertion to join with such points as ST-6 Jiache, LI-20 Yingxiang, SI-18 Quanliao and REN-24 Chengjiang.
Command Functions
- Meeting point of the Yang Qiao channel and Large Intestine channel
- Meeting point of the Stomach and Large Intestine channels with the Yang Qiao and REN channels
Actions
- Expels Wind from the face
- Removes obstructions from the channel
- Alleviates pain
- Benefits tendons and muscles
Indications
- Deviation of the mouth
- Excessive salivation
- Twitching eyelids
- Inability to close the mouth
- Inability to open the mouth
- Cold sores on the lips
- Lip spasms
- Toothache
- Swollen cheeks
- Ceaseless movement of the eyeball
- Inability to close the eye
- Pain and itching of the eye
- Blurring of distant objects
- Night blindness
- Hemiplegia with deviation of the mouth and eyes
- Eye tic
- Inability to close the eyes
- Lip rash
- Intestinal parasitosis
- Swollen foot
- Swelling of the legs
- Facial paralysis
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Mouth and eyes awry
- Muteness
- Drooling
- Aphasia
- Pain of the cheek
- Food and drink leak out of the mouth
- Numbness of the lips and face
- Contraction of the facial muscles
- Atrophy disorder with inability to walk
- Swelling of the leg
- Inability to eat
- Inability to drink
- Paralysis of the muscles around the mouth
- Spasms of the muscles over the eyes
- Trismus
- Spasm of the eyelid
- Myopia
- Laryngitis
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| M-HN-6 Yuyao, ST-2 Sibai | Trigeminal neuralgia |
| ST-6 Jiache, LI-20 Yingxiang, LI-4 Hegu | Facial paralysis |
| REN-24 Chengjiang, LI-4 Hegu | Excessive salivation |
| ST-6 Jiache or LU-7 Lieque | Deviation of the mouth |
| ST-6 Jiache, DU-26 Renzhong, REN-24 Chengjiang, GB-2 Tinghui, LI-4 Hegu | Deviation of the mouth and eye |
| LU-9 Taiyuan | Legs withered and lame |
Notes
This is primarily a local point for facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia. It has recently been used to treat nicotine addiction. For facial paralysis, facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia, especially when due to Deficiency, needle contralaterally. Common practice is to needle the diseased side. This is a special point for hemiplegia with deviation of the mouth and eyes.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.
Did this article help you?
Your answer shapes what gets rewritten next.
Keep readingRelated entries
Something this article did not cover?
Ask us directly. We reply within two days, and good questions become public articles.
Ask a question →