ACUPUNCTURE
Tai Xi: TCM Acupoint Guide
TAIXI
Name
Tai Xi (Taixi)
Location
In the depression between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon, level with the prominence of the medial malleolus. Note: locate in the center of the depression, midway between the prominence of the medial malleolus and the posterior border of the Achilles tendon.
Needling
- Perpendicular insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun, or join to UB-60 Kunlun. Sensation: distention and soreness, possibly a numb sensation extending to the sole of the foot.
- For pain in the sole of the foot, point the needle slightly toward the medial malleolus, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: an electric, numb sensation extending to the sole of the foot.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Shu-stream point of the Kidney channel
- Yuan-source point of the Kidney channel
- Earth point of the Kidney channel
Actions
- Nourishes Kidney Yin
- Benefits the Kidneys
- Clears Deficiency Heat
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
- Anchors the Qi
- Benefits the Lungs
- Strengthens the lumbar spine
- Strengthens the lower back and knees
- Cools Heat
- Promotes the function of the uterus
- Benefits Jing
- Regulates the uterus
- Tonifies Blood
- Warms Cold
- Restores collapsed Yin
- Calms the fetus
- Strengthens the brain
- Regulates menstruation
- Regulates the water pathways
Indications
- Deafness
- Tinnitus
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Toothache
- Nosebleed
- Sore throat
- Pharyngitis
- Chronic laryngitis
- Tonsillitis
- Throat blockage
- Laryngitis
- Heat sensation in the mouth that feels like glue
- Wasting and thirsting disorder
- Hot disease with copious sweating
- Chronic malaria
- Emaciation
- Seminal emission
- Spermatorrhea
- Impotence
- Premature ejaculation
- Sexual taxation
- Irregular menstruation
- Lumbar pain
- Pain of the abdomen and lateral costal regions
- Injury by Cold with inversion counterflow of the hands and feet
- Swelling and pain of the ankle
- Cold limbs, especially knees and elbows
- Suffocation
- Hiccups
- Fever
- Flank pain
- Diabetes
- Middle Jiao wasting and thirsting
- Thirst
- Pain in the renal region
- Pain in the lower thoracic region
- Atony of both legs
- Dark yellow urine
- Neurasthenia
- Breast abscess
- Mastitis
- Constipation
- Spasms of the diaphragm
- Infantile convulsions
- Yin hernia
- Severe jaundice
- Sticky saliva in the mouth
- Diarrhea
- Syrupy painful urinary dysfunction
- Renal colic
- Hands icy to the wrist
- Epilepsy
- Cough
- Hemoptysis
- Emphysema
- Tuberculosis
- Cough with no pleasure in eating
- Wheezing
- Dyspnea
- Asthma
- Chest pain
- Insomnia
- Poor memory
- Excessive dreaming
- Heat sensations in the palms
- Stabbing pain in the Heart
- Frequent, copious urination
- Enuresis
- Epigastric pain
- Heat in the hypogastrium with yellow urine
- Abdominal distention
- Difficult defecation
- Cold Shan disorder
- Damp, itchy skin lesions on the inner thigh
- Coldness of the lower limbs
- Numbness and pain of the legs
- Swelling and pain of the heel
- Vomiting
- Anhydrosis in febrile disease
- Anorexia
- Attack of perverse exogenous pathogen
- Dysmenorrhea
- Pulmonary catarrh
- Nocturnal emission
- Somnolence
- Nephritis
- Lumbar vertebra pain
- Paralysis of the lower limb
- Tiredness and insensitivity of the feet
- Alopecia
- Pain in the sole of the foot
- Uterine diseases
- Uterine spasms
- Restlessness and Heart pain
- Bronchitis
- Pruritis
- Sighs a lot
- Vomiting abundant mucus
- Inflammation of the mouth
- Heart pain like a needle with icy limbs
- Migraines
- Four limbs heavy and weary
- Hypertension due to Kidney Yin Deficiency
- Chronic consumptive disorders
- Menopausal syndrome
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| SI-1 Shaoze | Dry throat, Heat in the mouth with saliva like glue |
| KI-2 Rangu | Swelling of the inside of the throat |
| SJ-3 Zhongzhu | Swelling of the throat |
| REN-19 Zigong, REN-18 Yutang | Cough with rebellious Qi and agitation |
| UB-23 Shenshu, UB-40 Weizhong, UB-30 Baihuanshu | Lumbar pain due to Kidney Deficiency |
| KI-4 Dazhong, LI-13 Shouwuli, KI-6 Zhaohai, LI-2 Erjian, or KI-6 Zhaohai, DU-20 Baihui, GB-21 Jianjing, LI-2 Erjian, LI-3 Sanjian, ST-45 Lidui, UB-18 Ganshu | Somnolence |
| REN-4 Guanyuan | Ceaseless diarrhea and dysenteric disorder |
| UB-57 Chengshan | Difficult defecation |
| KI-10 Yingu, UB-23 Shenshu, REN-6 Qihai, UB-28 Pangguangshu, REN-4 Guanyuan | Dark urine |
| LU-10 Yuji, REN-3 Zhongji, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Pain of the penis |
| UB-60 Kunlun | Pain of the inner and outer ankle |
| SP-9 Yinlingquan, GB-30 Huantiao, GB-38 Yangfu, UB-67 Zhiyin | Paralysis of the lower extremity |
| UB-60 Kunlun, UB-62 Shenmai | Redness, swelling and pain of the leg and foot |
| N-HN-54 Anmian, LIV-3 Taichong | Aural vertigo |
Notes
The most important point for treating Yin Deficiency, and an extremely important point used to tonify any Deficiency of the Kidneys. Good for diseases of Nu, a type of alternating chills and fever. Also said to be a good point for dental pain. Good to use if the Heart pulse is deep. This point affects the pancreas.
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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