ACUPUNCTURE
Shen Ting: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Shen Ting (Shenting)
Location
On the midline of the head, 0.5 cun directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline, 0.5 cun posterior to the hairline and 0.5 cun anterior to DU-23 Shangxing. Note: if the anterior hairline is indistinct, locate it 3 cun superior to the glabella and 5 cun anterior to DU-20 Baihui.
Needling
- Transverse insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Slanted insertion, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Puncture subcutaneously, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, or prick to cause bleeding.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Meeting point of the DU channel with the Stomach and Bladder channels
Actions
- Calms the mind
- Benefits the Brain
- Calms the Shen
- Eliminates Wind
- Benefits the head
- Benefits the nose and eyes
Indications
- Schizophrenia
- Palpitations
- Insomnia
- Rhinorrhea
- Psychosis
- Ascends to high places and sings
- Mimics other people's speech
- Loss of consciousness
- Upward staring eyes
- Opisthotonis
- Vomiting with agitation and fullness
- Headache with chills and fever
- Cold sensations of the head
- Epistaxis
- Lachrymation
- Dyspnea
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Vertigo
- Mania-depression
- Discards clothing and runs around
- Fright palpitations
- Tongue thrusting
- Wind dizziness with vomiting
- Wind epilepsy
- Dizziness
- Head Wind
- Clear, ceaseless nasal discharge
- Nasal congestion and discharge
- Lack of visual clarity
- Rhinopolypus
- Stomatitis
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| GB-13 Benshen | Severe anxiety and fears |
| DU-27 Duiduan, REN-24 Chengjiang | Madness with vomiting of foam |
| DU-25 Suliao, KI-1 Yongquan | Wind epilepsy |
| DU-21 Qianding | Inability to speak following Windstroke |
| DU-20 Baihui, DU-21 Qianding, DU-23 Shangxing, SJ-23 Sizhukong, GB-20 Fengchi, LI-4 Hegu, UB-2 Zanzhu, ST-8 Touwei | One-sided or generalized head Wind |
| DU-23 Shangxing, DU-22 Xinhui | Head Wind and dizziness |
| DU-23 Shangxing, KI-1 Yongquan, UB-45 Yixi, LU-10 Yuji, SP-2 Dadu | Visual dizziness |
| UB-12 Fengmen, LI-4 Hegu, UB-2 Zanzhu, LI-20 Yingxiang, UB-67 Zhiyin, KI-27 Shufu | Rhinitis with clear nasal discharge |
| LIV-2 Xingjian | Lachrymation |
Contraindications
According to several classic texts, this point is contraindicated to needling, as it may cause mania or damage the eyesight.
Notes
A very important and powerful point to calm the mind. Sedate unless terribly depressed.
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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