Tianding LI17 : Nomenclature, Location, Function, Indication

Nomenclature:

Tian : Heaven               Ding: an ancient cooking vessel with two loop handles.
Tian means “upper”. The head looks like a Ding. Tianding point is below the ear at the neck.

Point: LI-17
Chinese Name: 天鼎
Name: Tianding
English Name/ Meaning: Heaven’s Tripod
Pinyin: tiān dǐng
Han Geul 한글: cheon jeong 천정
Romaji: ten tei
Vietnamese: Thiên đỉnh

Location :

On the lateral side of the neck, at the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle, beside the laryngeal protuberance, at the midpoint of the line connecting Futu (LI 18) and Quepen (ST 12).

Functions and indications :

Tianding benefits throat, clears lung air so is beneficial in sudden loss of voice, sore throat, scrofula, goiter, throat swelling, sore throat, hoarse voice, cough and asthma.
Goiter – still used.

Method :

Puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.

Remarks :

Halting speech and loss of voice use along with PC5.

Precautions :

Use caution. Avoid puncturing external jugular vein.