Spleen Channel

1
DABAO SP-21
Great Wrapping
Great Luo-Connecting point of the Spleen
LOCATION
On the mid-axillary line, in the seventh intercostal space.
Note: some sources locate this point in the sixth intercos-
tal space.
LOCATION NOTE
i. The intercostal spaces are most reliably counted down-
wards from the second intercostal space which lies
immediately below the sternal angle. In males, the nipple
almost invariably lies in the fourth intercostal space; ii. the
mid-axillary line is drawn vertically down from the apex
of the axilla (Jiquan HE-1).
NEEDLING
Transverse-oblique insertion along the intercostal space,
0.5 to 1 cun.
Caution: perpendicular insertion, especially in thin pa-
tients, carries a substantial risk of inducing a pneumothorax.
ACTIONS
Regulates qi and blood and firms the sinews and joints
Unbinds the chest and benefits the lateral costal region
INDICATIONS
Pain of the whole body, weariness of the four limbs,
flaccidity of the limbs, flaccidity of the hundred
joints.
Cough, dyspnoea, chest pain, pain in the chest and
lateral costal region on respiration, distention and
fullness of the lateral costal region.
COMMENTARY
The name of the point Dabao SP-21 is made up of two
characters, Da meaning great, and Bao meaning to
wrap, or to envelop. According to the Spiritual Pivot
21
The great luo of the Spleen is known as Dabao; it emerges
at three cun below the axilla spreading in the chest and
lateral costal region. When it is excess there is pain of the
whole body. When it is deficient the hundred joints are
flaccid. This channel embraces the blood of all the luo
[connecting channels].
A possible explanation of this passage from the Spiritual
Pivot is that one of the functions of the luo-connecting
channels in general is to assist in the distribution of qi, and
more especially blood, to all the tissues of the body via the
network of the minute luo-connecting channels. Since the
Spleen controls blood, its great luo-connecting channel
dominates this function of blood distribution throughout
the body. When blood stagnates there is pain of the
whole body; when blood is deficient and unable to
nourish the tissues the hundred joints are flaccid.
Dabao SP-21 is also mentioned in the Ode to Elucidate
Mysteries which says that it dominates the upper region
(Tianshu ST-25 dominates the middle region and Diji SP-8
dominates the lower region). Despite these two classical
references, Dabao SP-21 appears in no traditional combi-
nations in any of the major classical texts.
COMBINATIONS
Pain of the whole body and weariness of the four
limbs: Dabao SP-21, Yanglingquan GB-34, Quchi
L.I.-11 and Tianzhu BL-10.
Pain of the chest and lateral costal region: Dabao
SP-21, Sanyangluo SJ-8, Ximen P-4, Yangfu GB-38
and Zulinqi GB-41.
mid-axillary line
Dabao SP-21
seventh intercostal space
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CONTENTS
Lung
L. Intestine
Stomach
Spleen
Heart
S. Intestine
Bladder
Kidney
Pericardium
Sanjiao
Gall Bladder
Liver
Conception
Governing
Extra Points
See Notes