ACUPUNCTURE
Shen Dao: TCM Acupoint Guide
SHENDAO
Name
Shen Dao (Shendao)
Location
On the posterior midline, inferior to the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra, five intervertebral spaces below C7.
Needling
- Puncture obliquely upward, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Caution: the spinal canal lies 1.25 to 1.75 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build.
- Slanted insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Actions
- Regulates the heart
- Calms the shen
- Relaxes the chest
- Tonifies the heart and lungs
- Clears heat
- Pacifies wind
Indications
- Asthma
- Cough
- Chest and hypochondriac pain
- Anxiety and palpitations due to fear
- Neurasthenia
- Aphasia due to windstroke
- Forgetfulness
- Insomnia
- Sadness
- Disorientation
- Timidity with shortness of breath
- Lack of qi
- Taxation consumption
- Fever due to injury by cold with a headache that comes and goes
- Heat in the body
- Dizziness
- Heat in the liver
- Hot dyspnea
- Fever and chills
- Tetany
- Difficulty closing the mouth due to spasm
- Poor memory
- Pain and stiffness of the back
- Cardiac pain
- First aid for mad dog bites
- Fever
- Malaria
- Heart disease
- Seizures
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Childhood wind epilepsy
- Clonic spasm
- Childhood fright wind
- Lockjaw
- Pain and cold sensations of the upper back
Contraindications
Some classical texts forbid needling this point.
Notes
This point actions are mostly used for excess patterns of the heart. Using moxa on this point strengthens the heart.
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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