ACUPUNCTURE
Wei Cang: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Wei Cang (Weicang)
Location
3 cun lateral to the midline, level with the lower border of the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebra and level with UB-21 Weishu. Note: when the shoulder is relaxed, the 3 cun line corresponds to the medial border of the scapula.
Needling
- Puncture obliquely, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Caution: deep perpendicular or deep oblique needling in a medial direction carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.
- Slanted insertion, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Actions
- Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Indications
- Abdominal distention
- Pain in the epigastric region and back
- Infantile indigestion
- Abdominal fullness
- Difficult ingestion
- Sudden turmoil disorder
- Much cold
- Localized edema
- Stomach ache
- Gastritis
- Abdominal pain
- Deficiency distention
- Childhood nutritional impairment
- Edema
- Aversion to cold
- Anorexia
Notes
This point is good for assimilation of ideas and thoughts and the processing of thoughts. It is used for difficulty swallowing (when food sticks in lumps).
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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