ACUPUNCTURE
Jia Che: TCM Acupoint Guide
JIACHE
Name
Jia Che (Jiache)
Location
Approximately one fingerbreadth anterior and superior to the angle of the jaw, at the prominence of the masseter muscle. Note: ask the patient to clench the jaw before locating.
Needling
- Transverse insertion for facial paralysis, join to ST-4 Dicang, 2 to 3 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness extending around the point.
- For spasm of the masseter muscle, direct the needle upward.
- Transverse insertion towards the upper or lower jaw for toothache.
- Transverse insertion to join with such points as ST-4 Dicang, ST-5 Daying and ST-7 Xiaguan.
- Straight insertion, 0.5 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, or subcutaneously with the tip of the needle towards ST-4 Dicang.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Sun Simiao Ghost point
Actions
- Eliminates Wind
- Benefits the jaw and teeth
- Activates the channel
- Alleviates pain
- Clears Heat from the Yang Ming
Indications
- Deviation of the mouth and eyes
- Swelling of the cheek and face
- Toothache
- Gum disorders
- Tension and pain of the jaw
- Inability to chew
- Inability to open the mouth following Windstroke
- Temporomandibular joint arthritis or dysfunction
- Generalized toothache with pain and swelling of the lower jaw and cheeks
- Hemiplegia
- Total paralysis
- Stiffness and pain of the neck
- Mumps
- Loss of voice
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Facial paralysis
- Trismus
- Torticollis
- Spasm of the masseter muscle
- Sore throat
- Lockjaw
- Apoplexy with trismus
- Spasms and neuralgia of the neck muscles
- Aphonia
- Laryngitis
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| SI-18 Quanliao | Pain and deviation of the mouth, aversion to Wind and Cold, inability to chew |
| ST-4 Dicang, DU-26 Renzhong, REN-24 Chengjiang, GB-2 Tinghui, LI-4 Hegu | Deviation of the mouth and eye |
| DU-26 Renzhong, DU-20 Baihui, REN-24 Chengjiang, LI-4 Hegu, or GB-3 Shangguan, Ahshi points | Lockjaw |
| SJ-20 Jiaosun | Inability to chew |
| GB-2 Tinghui, LI-4 Hegu | Swelling, pain and redness of the ear |
| LI-4 Hegu | Facial paralysis, problems of the lower jaw including toothache |
| N-UE-1 Yatong, ST-7 Xiaguan, LI-4 Hegu, ST-44 Neiting | Toothache |
| SJ-17 Yifeng, LI-4 Hegu | Acute parotitis |
| REN-24 Chengjiang, LI-4 Hegu | Lockjaw |
Notes
An important local point to treat a wide range of disorders affecting the jaw.
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.
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