ACUPUNCTURE
Tian Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
TIANSHU
Name
Tian Shu (Tianshu)
Location
On the abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the umbilicus. Note: the 2 cun line on the abdomen is located halfway between the umbilicus and the palpable lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness, possibly extending throughout the side of the abdomen which is needled.
- Oblique insertion toward the uterus for uterine diseases.
- Caution: in thin patients, deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity.
- Perpendicular insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.7 to 1.2 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Front-Mu point of the Large Intestine
Actions
- Regulates and facilitates the functioning of the Intestines
- Regulates the Spleen, its Qi and Yang
- Regulates the Stomach, its Qi and Yin
- Resolves Dampness and Damp-Heat
- Regulates Qi and Blood
- Eliminates Stagnation
- Regulates the menses
- Clears Heat
- Eliminates Food Stagnation
- Regulates the Middle and Lower Jiaos
- Moistens the Intestines
- Generates fluids
- Tonifies Ying Qi
- Dries Dampness and Cold-Damp
- Warms Cold
- Expels parasites
- Expels urinary stones
Indications
- Diarrhea
- Spleen diarrhea
- Persistent diarrhea with undigested food in the stool
- Dysenteric disorders
- Borborygmus
- Lower Yuan deficiency and Cold
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal distention with labored breathing
- Intestinal abscess
- Generalized swelling with severe, cutting periumbilical pain
- Umbilical Shan, hernia, disorder with localized pain that periodically surges up to the Heart
- Shan, hernia, disorder
- Running piglet Qi
- Acute simple appendicitis
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Difficulty staying upright for a long time
- Diarrhea in winter
- Suffocation
- Amenorrhea
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- Peritonitis
- Low back pain
- Dripping of turbid urine
- Burning sensation in the epigastrium
- Thirst
- Anxiety
- Mania
- Acute intestinal obstruction
- Colitis
- Appendicitis
- Indigestion
- Loose stool due to pulmonary tuberculosis
- Upper urinary tract stones
- Edema
- Drum distention
- Swelling of the face
- Turbid painful urinary dysfunction
- Vomiting
- Retching
- Difficult digestion
- Sudden turmoil disorder
- Abdominal masses in women
- Pain of the uterus
- Dysmenorrhea
- Irregular menstruation
- Infertility
- Red and white leukorrhea
- Cold shivering from malaria
- Severe Heat with manic raving
- Bacillary dysentery
- Anorexia
- Periumbilical pain
- Nervousness
- Delirium of words
- Intestinal parasitosis
- Endometritis
- Intestinal paralysis
- Round worms in the intestinal tract
- Vaginal discharge
- Abdominal obstruction or lumps due to Qi or Blood accumulation
- Foul-smelling, loose stools with a yellow tongue coat
- Schizophrenia
- Stomach and duodenal ulcers
- Enteritis
- Pancreatitis
- Constipation due to Heat
- Infantile diarrhea
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| ST-37 Shangjuxu, LI-11 Quchi | Acute simple appendicitis |
| REN-12 Zhongwan, REN-3 Zhongji | Ceaseless diarrhea |
| ST-44 Neiting, ST-45 Lidui | Undigested food in the stool, no pleasure in eating, periumbilical pain |
| ST-44 Neiting, SP-1 Yinbai, REN-6 Qihai, KI-6 Zhaohai, PC-6 Neiguan | Red, bloody dysenteric disorder |
| SJ-6 Zhigou | Vomiting, sudden turmoil disorder |
| KI-5 Shuiquan | Irregular menstruation |
| REN-8 Shenque, REN-5 Shimen | Umbilical Shan disorder |
| REN-5 Shimen, REN-6 Qihai, REN-8 Shenque | Hypogastric Shan disorder |
| ST-40 Fenglong, ST-42 Chongyang, ST-43 Xiangu, ST-45 Lidui | Facial swelling |
| ST-37 Shangjuxu | Acute dysentery |
| REN-7 Yinjiao, REN-4 Guanyuan | Dysmenorrhea |
| SJ-6 Zhigou | Vomiting with or without diarrhea |
| REN-6 Qihai, ST-37 Shangjuxu | Chronic diarrhea due to Spleen Yang Deficiency |
| LI-11 Quchi, LI-4 Hegu | Yangming stage or qi level pattern identification |
Contraindications
This is the single most important point for the treatment of the widest variety of Intestinal disorders. Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Notes
An extensively used point. Used with moxibustion, this is a special point for chronic diarrhea due to Spleen Yang Deficiency. It is also an important point to use for Yangming stage or qi level pattern identification.
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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