-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
point
UB-18: III-18: gan shu
acupuncture

definition

gan shu = liver's hollow/correspondence
Shu Associated point of the Gan (Liver)
location: 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of T-9, level with GV-8.
actions: pacifies the Shen; stimulates the Brain; benefits the eyes and improves vision; clears, drains and tonifies the Liver and Gall Bladder; extinguishes Liver Wind and stops convulsions; clears Liver Fire and Heat; cools Damp-Heat; moves Stagnant Qi; strengthens Xu (Deficiency) conditions; nourishes and regulates the Xue (Blood); nourishes Liver Yin; cools Heat in the Xue (Blood); facilitates generation of fluids; increases gall bladder secretions; harmonizes the Stomach and benefits the Qi; relieves mid-back tension
indications: neurasthenia; anger; irritability; frustration; depression; insomnia; excessive dreaming; seizures; dizziness and vertigo due to Liver Yang Shi (Excess); muscular tetany; eye diseases; glaucoma; dark rings around eyes; epistaxis; spitting blood; bitter taste in mouth; reduced appetite; "chest and ribs fullness in the chest and costal regions, esp. with melancholy; bronchitis; asthma; hemoptysis; dyspnea; pain or lumps in the chest and abdomen; atrophy syndrome stomach diseases; duodenal ulcer; jaundice; hepatomegaly; chronic and acute hepatitis; cholecystitis; intercostal neuralgia; irregular menstruation; pale stools; hemorrhoids; angio-neurotic edema (Mann, p. 33); sciatica
needle technique: perpendicular insertion, 0.5 - 1.0 cun, angled slightly toward the spine, producing a local sensation of soreness and distension, sometimes spreading between the ribs; caution: be careful to avoid deep perpendicular insertion so as not to puncture the lungs; or
oblique inferior insertion, 0.3 - 0.6 cun, angled downward along the muscle, producing a local sensation of soreness and distension;
moxa: 3 - 9 cones of direct moxa; 5 - 20 minutes of indirect moxa with a pole
combinations:
» with UB-11, UB-13, UB-15, UB-17, UB-20 and UB-23 disperses Yang Shi (Excess) in the organs (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with Lv-2 or Lv-3 calms Liver Fire (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with Lv-2 and GB-20 reduce Yang in the Liver (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with UB-19 and GB-12 reduces upward disturbances of Fire of the Liver and Gall Bladder (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with UB-19 and Lv-3 clears the Fire of the Liver and Gall Bladder; eases the Mind (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with LI-4 and PC-5 dispels Wind, releases emotional depression and Qi Stagnation (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with Lv-3 relieves Liver Depression (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with GB-40 regulates circulation of Qi in the Liver (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with UB-19 promotes Liver and Gall Bladder and relieves Stagnation and pain (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with UB-23 pacifies Liver Yang; nourishes Yin of Kidney and Liver (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with UB-17 activates and nourishes the Xue (Blood); disperses Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); removes obstruction from the Liver (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with Lv-14 and UB-17 eliminates Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) (Finkelstein, p. 41);
» with UB-23 and GB-39 for acute leukemia (Shanghai, p. 205);
» with GV-4 to clear dull eyes (Shanghai, p. 205);
» with UB-30, LI-4, UB-16, Sp-10, Sp-6 and GB-34 for cirrhosis of the liver (Shanghai, p. 205);
» with yi ming and Lv-4 for acute or chronic hepatitis (Shanghai, p. 205);
» with CV-6 and Sp-6 for amenorrhea (Shanghai, p. 205);
» with UB-20 and UB-47/52 for acute pain in the flanks (Shanghai, p. 205).


footnotes