ACUPUNCTURE
Tai Bai: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Tai Bai (Taibai)
Location
In the depression proximal and inferior to the first metatarsal joint, on the posterior inferior aspect of the head of the first metatarsal bone, located by sliding the fingertip proximally over the side of the ball of the foot to the junction of the red and white skin.
Needling
- Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Straight insertion 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Shu-Stream point of the Spleen channel
- Yuan-Source point of the Spleen channel
- Earth point of the Spleen channel
Actions
- Tonifies the Spleen
- Regulates the Spleen Qi and Yang
- Regulates the Stomach Qi and Yin
- Regulates the Large Intestine
- Regulates the Middle and Lower Jiaos
- Resolves Dampness
- Resolves Damp-Heat
- Clears Heat
- Harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach
- Reduces digestive Stagnation
- Regulates Qi
- Benefits the Lungs
- Strengthens the spine
Indications
- Spleen and Stomach Deficiency
- Heaviness of the body with pain in the bones
- Oppressive sensation of the four limbs
- Leg Qi
- Borborygmus
- Borborygmus with stabbing pain
- Diarrhea
- Undigested food in the stool
- Diarrhea with pus and Blood
- Dysenteric disorder
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
- Febrile disease that begins with heaviness of the head
- Knee and thigh pain
- Joint pains
- Lumbar pain
- Nervousness
- Fever
- Colic
- Beriberi
- Fevers without perspiration
- Gastric pain
- Stuffiness of the chest and epigastrium
- Chronic retention of Phlegm in the Lungs
- Nausea
- Belching
- Anal fistula
- Headache
- Cholera
- Bone pain
- Bradycardia
- Cutting pain in the abdomen
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal distention
- Epigastric distention
- Epigastric and Heart pain
- Distention of the chest and lateral costal region
- Vomiting
- Hunger with no pleasure in eating
- Sudden turmoil disorder with hands and feet counter flow Cold
- Febrile disease with fullness and oppression and inability to lie down
- Pain of the forehead
- Heat in the body with agitation and fullness
- Atrophy disorder
- Difficult defecation
- Pain of the big toe
- Dyspepsia
- Anorexia
- Cramps and heaviness
- Cardiac pain
- Intestinal hemorrhage
- Sluggishness
- Difficult urination
- Acute gastroenteritis
- Headache
- Sensation of heaviness and Heat in the body
- Edema
- Extreme pallor
- Fever with fullness and Indigestion
- Pain of the Kidneys
- Pain of the Heart and Stomach
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| SP-16 Fuai | Undigested food in the stool |
| SP-4 Gongsun, UB-25 Dachangshu, UB-22 Sanjiaoshu | Borborygmus |
| SP-9 Yinlingquan, UB-57 Chengshan, ST-41 Jiexi | Sudden turmoil disorder |
| ST-39 Xiajuxu, KI-21 Youmen | Diarrhea and dysenteric disorder with pus and Blood |
| UB-57 Chengshan, KI-7 Fuliu, LIV-3 Taichong | Hemafecia |
| KI-6 Zhaohai, LIV-13 Zhangmen, or KI-6 Zhaohai, LIV-13 Zhangmen, SJ-6 Zhigou | Constipation |
| SJ-3 Zhongzhu or KI-15 Zhongzhu | Difficult defecation |
| ST-43 Xiangu, UB-25 Dachangshu | Pain of Intestinal abscess |
| SP-4 Gongsun | Abdominal distention, undigested food in the stool, drum distention with great fullness |
| LIV-3 Taichong | Abdominal distention leading to back pain |
| KI-7 Fuliu, SP-4 Gongsun, LIV-4 Zhongfeng, REN-9 Shuifen | Drum distention |
| UB-39 Weiyang, UB-37 Yinmen, SP-9 Yinlingquan, LIV-2 Xingjian | Lumbar pain with inability to bend and extend |
| SP-1 Yinbai | Hemorrhoids |
Notes
This point is good for the skin and chronic diseases. This point calms the mind. It can be used when Spleen Qi has been weakened by excess mental activity. It is the point for equilibrium and joy. It stimulates the pancreas to treat diabetes. This point affects initial stage acute conditions of the Large Intestine. This is the best point to eliminate both Internal and External Dampness. This is a special point for hemorrhoids.
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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