ACUPUNCTURE
Tai Yang: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Tai Yang (Taiyang)
Location
In the depression about one fingerbreadth posterior to the midpoint between the lateral end of the eyebrow and the corner of the canthus.
Needling
- Prick for a few drops of Blood for acute conjunctivitis or headache.
- Transverse insertion to treat migraine headache, pointing the needle backward to join with GB-8 Shuaigu, 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness extending through the temple.
- Transverse insertion to treat facial paralysis, pointing the needle downward to join with ST-6 Jiache, 3 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness, possibly extending as far as the tongue.
- Transverse insertion pointed posteriorly to GB-8 Shuaigu, 0.5 to 1.5 cun.
- Oblique insertion anteriorly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, or prick to cause bleeding.
- Prick to bleed.
Actions
- Eliminates Wind
- Clears Fire, Heat
- Cools and clears the eyes
- Reduces swelling
- Alleviates pain
- Activates the channel
Indications
- Febrile convulsions
- Common cold with headache
- Hypertension due to Yang Excess
- Unilateral headache
- Facial paralysis
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Dizziness due to Liver Wind
- Upper body erysipelas due to Wind-Heat
- Conjunctivitis
- Optic nerve atrophy
- Sudden blindness
- Headache
- Migraine headache
- Eye diseases
- Lateral and midline headaches
- Sore, red and swollen eyes
- Membrane over the eye
- Toothache
- Dimness of vision
- Eye pain
- Deviation of the mouth and eye
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| M-HN-3 Yintang, LI-4 Hegu | Headache, common cold |
| Ear apex (prick) | Acute conjunctivitis |
| UB-2 Zanzhu (prick) | Inflammation of the eyelid |
| SJ-17 Yifeng | Toothache |
| UB-1 Jingming, M-HN-7 Yuwei | Eye disorders |
| UB-1 Jingming, M-HN-7 Yuwei | Bleed Taiyang for redness, swelling and unbearable pain of both eyes with photophobia |
| SI-1 Shaoze | Swelling of the breasts |
Notes
One of the most important and commonly used extra points, and an often used local point for headaches due to Liver Yang or Liver Fire. It can also be used for eye problems due to Heat. This is a point in martial arts which can be fatal. It can be bled bilaterally for dimness of vision.
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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