ACUPUNCTURE
Tai Yuan: TCM Acupoint Guide
TAIYUAN
Name
Tai Yuan (Taiyuan)
Location
At the wrist, in the depression between the radial artery and the tendon of the abductor pollicis longus, level with HT-7 Shenmen.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, causing local distention and pain.
- Caution: avoid puncturing the radial artery.
- Perpendicular insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, avoiding the radial artery.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.2 to 0.3 cun. Avoid puncturing the radial artery.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Shu-stream point
- Yuan-source point
- Earth point
- Meeting point of the Vessels
- Tonification point
Actions
- Tonifies the Lungs
- Tonifies Lung qi and Yin
- Tonifies Gathering qi
- Transforms Phlegm
- Promotes the descending function of the Lungs
- Regulates and harmonizes the one hundred vessels
- Activates the channels
- Alleviates pain
- Eliminates Wind
- Resolves Lung Phlegm
- Regulates the Lungs
- Stops coughing
- Promotes the circulation of Blood
- Clears Lung and Liver Heat
Indications
- Cough
- Cough with watery phlegm
- Asthma
- Wheezing
- Dyspnea
- Shortness of breath
- Much yawning
- Heat in the palms
- Dry throat
- Oppression and agitation of the chest with difficult breathing and inability to lie down
- Weakness or pain of the wrist
- Pain of the shoulder and back
- Pain of the supraclavicular fossa
- Pain in the inner aspect of the arm
- Breast pain
- Copious watery phlegm
- Toothache
- Asthma with cough due to Cold
- Bronchitis
- Pertussis
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Wrist pain
- Pain and debility of the wrist
- Diseases of the radial side of the wrist joint
- Frontal headache
- Migraine
- Neuralgia of the head
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Malaise preventing sleep
- Influenza
- Pneumonia
- Energy rising in the body
- Incontinence of stools
- Stenosis of the esophagus
- Rough pulse
- Pain in the shoulder girdle
- Pain in the elbow
- Chronic cough and asthma due to Yin Deficiency
- Coma
- Cold hands and feet
- Cannot hold onto or grasp objects
- Skin very tender and painful to the touch
- Radiation poisoning
- Facial paralysis
- Incontinence of urine
- Circulation problems
- Hiccups
- Cataracts
- Suffocation
- Dark urine
- Spitting Blood
- Coughing Blood
- Vomiting Blood
- Agitation with Heart pain accompanied by a choppy pulse
- Manic raving
- Pulseless syndrome
- Stomach qi rebellion
- Belching
- Superficial visual obstruction
- Redness and pain of the eyes
- Cold shivering
- Cold inversion
- Toothache
- Head Wind
- Swelling of the face
- Scanty dry phlegm with dry throat
- Spitting of Blood while coughing
- Cough with lots of mucoid sputum
- Pharynx and larynx swollen and painful
- Pain and fullness in the chest
- Pain in the chest and medial aspect of the forearm
- Chest Bi
- Fullness of the Lungs
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Heart pain
- Forearm neuralgia
- Internal aspect of the arm painful
- Eye pain
- Pain in the eyes with fever
- Inflammation of the eyes
- Membrane on the eyes
- Sudden chills and fever
- Deviation of the mouth
- Divagation
- Great thirst with dry throat
- Pain in the shoulders and back with sensation of Cold
- Lung abscess
- Palpitations
- Heatstroke
- Varicose veins
- Hemorrhoids
- Complete lack of sensation in the tips of the fingers
- Pain in the Lungs or Heart
- Conjunctivitis
- Drooling
- Noisy respiration
- Sensation of swelling in the Lungs
- Subclavicular pain
- Loves to stretch oneself often
- Chilblains
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| UB-13 Feishu | Lung distention |
| LU-10 Yuji | Pain of the Lung and Heart, dry throat |
| LI-5 Yangxi, LI-8 Xialian, UB-60 Kunlun | Manic raving |
| SP-4 Gongsun, SP-1 Yinbai, UB-13 Feishu, SP-9 Yinlingquan, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Agitation and oppression with inability to sleep |
| HT-7 Shenmen | Belching |
| LU-7 Lieque | Stabbing qi pain of the two breasts, Wind phlegm |
| PC-6 Neiguan, M-UE-9 Sifeng | Pertussis |
| REN-17 Shanzhong | Tonifies Gathering qi |
Notes
The single most important point on the Lung channel to tonify Lung qi and Yin. Used for long-term problems and for all disorders of qi. A first aid point for asphyxia, collapse, poisoning and concussion. Good when the pulses are chaotic, not rhythmical or not regular. It has a tremendous effect on the Blood.
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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