Dazhui GV14: Nomenclature, Location, Functions, Indications, Method, Precautions
Nomenclature:
Da: large Zhui: vertebrae
Dazhui is below the 7th cervical vertebra, which is the largest of the cervical vertebrae.
English name/ meaning: Great Hammer
Chinese name: 大椎
Chinese pinyin: Dazhui
Korean name: Taech’u
Japanese name: Daitsui
Vietnamese name: Dai chuy
French: Pae-lao
Location:
On the posterior midline, in the depression below the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra.
Functions:
- Relieves external conditions (expels pathogens, helps skin to resist the pathogens).
- Frees up the Yang (stimulates areas of the body that are deficient in Qi and Yang ).
- Clears brains and calms spirit (epilepsy, seizures, psychosis).
Indication:
- Dazhui relieves exterior syndromes so is good for febrile disease, tidal fever, night sweats malaria.
- Also helps to expand the chest, stop coughing and wheezing: Cough and asthma
- Regulating the count of the white blood cells: radiotherapy or chemotherapy may cause the decrease of white blood cells of the patients with a tumour, which may be increased by acupuncture; for tropical eosinophilia, acupuncture may decrease acidocyte.
- Also expels internal wind : tremors, convulsions.
- Good for Psychosis, epilepsy, infantile convulsion, Rubella, acne.
- Local problems: back and nape stiffness and pain
Method:
Puncture obliquely upwards 0.5-1cun.
Prick to induce bleeding with a three-edged needle.
Remarks:
Crossing Point of the six Yang channels and Governor Vessel .
Point of the sea of Qi.
Best point to treat sweat.
Important point for malaria.
Precautions:
Avoid deep insertion. The spinal canal lies between 1.25 and 1.75 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build.
