ACUPUNCTURE
Shui Tu: TCM Acupoint Guide
SHUITU
Name
Shui Tu (Shuitu)
Location
At the midpoint of the line joining ST-9 Renying and ST-11 Qishe, on the anterior border of m. sternocleidomastoideus.
Needling
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Perpendicular-oblique insertion directed medially to avoid the carotid artery, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
- Caution: care should be taken to avoid penetrating the artery, which must be palpated and then held laterally during needling by using the index finger and thumb of one hand above and below the point.
Actions
- Benefits the throat and neck
- Descends lung qi
Indications
- Sore throat
- Diseases of the vocal cords
- Goiter
- Asthma
- Dyspnea
- Swelling and pain of the shoulder
- Cough
- Swelling and pain of the throat
- Scrofula
- Whooping cough
- Shortness of breath
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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