Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Du Channel

This is one of the 8 extraordinary channels, and along with the Ren channel that runs up the front of the body, these two meridians are not paired left and right.  Together with the 12 paired channels, these are known as the 14 regular channels.  This is a Yang polarity, and as such, exerts great influence among the yang channels of the body.  The word Du in Chinese means, "The Governor".

There is only one connection with it's paired channel, the Ren channel, and that is at Du1.

Clinically, the Du channel is used to treat
  • Anorectal disorders, low backache
  • Immune disorders
  • Infective disorders
  • Mental and neurological disorders, deaf-mutism
  • Oral disorders.
Because this channel runs over the spinal cord and the brain, it's functions are closely linked to the functions of the central nervous system.  Many authorities state that the Internal Organ which relates to the Du channel is the Extraordinary Organ, the Brain.

Common Points

Du1  Luo connecting point.  Midway between the tip of the coccyx and the anus.  I'll never needle this point.  I don't care how well it's indicated, I'm not needling it.  But, seeing as it's the Luo connecting point, I guess I'd better learn what it's about...  Wow, surprise surprise, it's good for Hemorrhoids!  Who knew?  Rectal prolapse.  Boy, if I had a nickle each time someone came to the clinic complaining of that one...  Oh, here's a good one, anal fissures and pruritusof the anus.  Also good for coccydynia.  

Bloody hell, please don't send people to me with these conditions!

Du3  Now this one is more my style, located where most women put their "tramp stamps".  On the midline, level with the upper boarder of the iliac crests.  Good for low backache, genitourinary disorders and impotence.  Is anyone else getting the fixation over genitourinary disorders here?  Freud would have a field day with this!

Du4  This one is between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebra on the midline.  Mingmen.  Good for, you guessed it, low back ache!  Oh, and genitourinary disorders...  With so many genitourinary disorder points, which ones do  you choose???  ARRRRGGGGG!

Du6  On the midline, between the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebra.  This one is a bit more useful.  Hemorrhoids, epilepsy.  This also causes muscle relaxation in most spasmic states.  It is also used for surgery together with Du or Ex20 during abdominal surgery, both electrically stimulated.

Du11,  Shendao.  another Shen point, this one is specific for amnesia and loss of memory.  it's between the 5th and 6th thoracic vertebra.  

Du14, Dazhui.  Now this point, THIS point is good!  
  • Mental disorders, epilepsy, convulsions in children, headache, migraine
  • Local disorders, stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, torticollis, sprain of cervical muscles, hypotonia of the neck muscles
  • Frozen shoulder with pain radiating to the back of the chest, paralysis of the upper limbs
  • Pain along the thoracic (dorsal) spine, ankylosing spondylitis
  • Lung disorders, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, cough, whooping cough.
  • Ecxema and other skin disorders
  • Infective and immune disorders, such as cold, influenza, fevers, malaria and infections
This is one of the most potent immune enhancing acupuncture points.  In very high fever, strong stimulation of the needle can help bring it down quickly, often in a matter of minutes.  It is especially useful in children who are toxic and cannot handle drugs.

Du15  Yamen, DANGEROUS POINT!  Forbidden, as far as I'm concerned.  While indicated for deaf-mutism, aphasia, aphonia, speech difficulties following paralytic strokes.  Instruct the patient to lean slightly forward while needling, and do not stimulate or exceed 1 cun depth.  Many acupuncture authorities suggest not retaining the needle here at all, and should any discomfort be felt, immediate removal is necessary.  You are right over top of the medulla oblongata.

Du16  Fengfu, DANGEROUS POINT!  Also forbidden.  This one is indicated for the common cold and mental disorders, and headaches.  Finger pressure here is fine.  This is one of the most vulnerable acupuncture points on the body, don't fuck with it.

Du20,  Baihui.  Now this is a point I can get behind.  In fact, I use it in 99% of all treatments.  It's translation is the "meeting of 100 points".  This point controls all other points and channels in the body.  I use it for it's sedation effects, and it's amplification effects, as it improves the response of every other acupuncture point that you chose to use. 
  •  It is the very best tranquilizing and sedative point on the body.  It treats all psychiatric and neurological disorders, like schizophrenia, epilepsy, insomnia, parkinsonism, neurasthenia and all conditions where psychogenic conditions might exist, including fibromyalgia and bronchial asthma, impotence, ecxema, and every other disorder that stress makes worse.  Therefore, it treats EVERYTHING!
  • Good for headaches, especially vertical headaches
  • apoplexy and other cerebral vascular disorders (in their early stages)
  • Loss of memory
  • Distal point for anal problems
  • Falling out of head hair due to pathological causes
As this is a powerful sedative and tranquilizing point, and that psychogenic factors are present in almost all diseases (even getting hit by a bus), the use of this point on a general basis with other specific points is recommended for good therapeutic results.

This point acts as "governor", having a coordinating effect when points are used on a number of different channels.

This is an excellent point to start therapy with, because the patient cannot see it and it is relatively painless.

Du23  1.0 cun above the anterior hairline, it's good for nasal obstruction and epistaxis.

Du25  At the tip of the nose, it's good for nasal obstruction and epistaxis.

Du26  At the junction of the upper third and lower two thirds of the philtrum of the upper lip, in the midline.
  • This can be used as a Jing Well point for acute emergencies, such as fainting, epileptic fits, convulsions, shock, heat stroke, hysterical attack
  • Acute low back ache, as a distal point.  Have the person bend forwards and backwards slightly while fingerpressure on this point can quickly relieve the backache.
  • Facial paralysis, painful disorders and swelling of the face
  • This point in TCM is known as the "point of reanimation" as it is used for sudden fainting
  • In treatment of emergency situations, the needle may be manipulated and removed as soon as the patient can feel it.  It is not necessary to retain it longer than this
  • Acupressure applied with the nail of the index finger is found to be equally effective.
  • This point is the meeting point of three yang channels.
Du28  Between the gum and upper lip in the frenulum of the upper lip.  Good for pain and swelling of the gums and other oral diseases, used as a distal point for Hemorrhoids.  This point can be bled for effect instead of needled.  Explain THAT to your western medicine indoctrinated patient...

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