ACUPUNCTURE
Ya Men: TCM Acupoint Guide
YAMEN
Name
Ya Men (Yamen)
Location
On the midline at the nape of the neck, in the depression 0.5 cun inferior to DU-16 Fengfu, 0.5 cun within the posterior hairline, between the spinous processes of the first and second cervical vertebrae.
Needling
- Straight insertion, one to two cun. The needle should be inserted level with the mouth or earlobe, and should not be rotated or otherwise agitated after insertion. Sensation: local distention. When the needle is inserted too deeply, there will be a strong electric sensation indicating that the spinal cord has been touched; in this case the needle should be at least partially withdrawn.
- Caution: extreme care must be exercised so as to avoid inserting the needle upward into the medulla oblongata, where it could cause death.
- Caution: the spinal canal lies between 1.5 to 2 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build. Deep perpendicular insertion is strictly contraindicated, as is oblique insertion towards the brain.
- Perpendicular insertion slightly inferiorly, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Traditionally moxibustion is not applicable.
Command Functions
- Meeting point of the DU and Yang Wei channels
- Point of the Sea of Qi
- One of the nine needles to return Yang
Actions
- Benefits the tongue
- Treats muteness
- Eliminates Wind
- Benefits the neck and spine
- Treats collapse of Yang
- Clears the senses
- Clears consciousness
- Clears the mind
- Stimulates speech
- Moistens the throat
- Stimulates qi flow
Indications
- Stiffness of the tongue with inability to speak
- Loss of voice
- Lotus flower tongue, with distention and prominence of Blood vessels beneath the tongue
- Flaccidity of the tongue
- Heaviness of the head
- Head Wind
- Loss of consciousness from Windstroke
- Epilepsy
- Clonic spasm
- Mania-depression
- Headache
- Deaf-mutism
- Seizures
- Cerebral palsy
- Incomplete maturation of the brain
- Hysteria
- Convulsions
- Mumps
- Tinnitus
- Sudden loss of voice
- Sudden hoarseness of voice
- Aphonia
- Mutism
- Swollen tongue
- Stiffness of the tongue preventing speech
- Paralysis of the suprahyoid muscle
- Mental disorders
- Insanity
- Loss of consciousness due to cerebral hemorrhage
- Cerebral congestion
- Loss of consciousness
- All types of Yang Heat Excess
- All types of Qi exuberance
- Anhidrosis
- Chills and fever
- Nosebleed that does not stop
- Stiffness of the neck
- Stiffness of the spine
- Spasm of the spine
- Aversion to Cold
- Cold counterflow of the limbs
- Purple lips
- Occipital headache
- Apoplexy
- Aphasia in stroke
- Swelling or paralysis of the tongue
- Congenital deafness
- Throat swelling
- Pharyngitis
- Swelling of the sublingual area giving the impression of a second tongue
- Convulsions with the back arched
- Madness
- Meningitis
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| LU-6 Kongzui | Loss of voice |
| SJ-8 Sanyangluo | Sudden loss of voice |
| SJ-1 Guanchong | Flaccidity of the tongue with inability to speak |
| DU-16 Fengfu | Windstroke, flaccidity of the tongue and sudden loss of voice, excessive extension of the spine |
| LU-11 Shaoshang, LU-10 Yuji, LI-2 Erjian, PC-9 Zhongchong, KI-10 Yingu, KI-2 Rangu | Stiffness of the tongue |
| DU-14 Dazhui | Moxa both points |
| UB-7 Tongtian, UB-59 Fuyang | Heaviness of the head |
| DU-26 Renzhong, SI-3 Houxi, ST-40 Fenglong | Seizures |
| DU-14 Dazhui, M-HN-13 Yiming, PC-6 Neiguan, ST-36 Zusanli | Incomplete maturation of the brain, the Three Vertebral Points |
Notes
This point lies directly behind the root of the tongue and has a direct connection with it. Its main action is to stimulate speech.
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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