Chinese Medicine Series 16:
Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.2
The following post is an excerpt from ’Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 2 from the chapter ‘The Foot Jueyin Liver Channel & Points‘ translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur. This second volume completing the series and is available at a reduced price compared to other outlets on the Purple Cloud Institute website:
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Foot Juéyīn Liver Channel & Points:
肝經第三穴太衝
Third Point of the Liver Channel
Tai Chong – Supreme Surge (LR-3)
穴在足大指本節後二寸，或云一寸半，内間動脈應手陷中，足厥陰肝脈所注爲腧土。《銅人》：鍼三分，留十呼，灸三壯。
This point is located 2 cùn behind the base joint of the big toe; some say 1 cùn and a half; it is the depression where the pulsating vessel resonates with the hands. The foot juéyīn vessel pours here, as the stream and wood point. The Tóngrén states, “Needle 3 fēn, retain for 10 respirations, and moxa 3 cones.”
注：《素問•水熱穴論》云：三陰之所交結於脚也，踝上各一行者，此腎脈之下行也，名曰太衝。王氏曰：腎脈與衝脈並下行，循足入盛大，故曰太衝。一云：衝脈起於氣街，衝直而通，故謂之衝。
Explanation: the “Treatise on Water and Heat Points” from the Sùwèn states, “The leg is the place where the three yīn [vessels] interlink; for the one pathway above the ankle on each side, this is the lower pathway of the kidney vessel, which is called Tài Chōng (Supreme Surge).” Mister Wáng says, “As the kidney vessel and the chōng vessel descend together to follow and enter the foot, they become exuberant and large, thus it is called Tài Chōng (Supreme Surge).”387 Another [person] says,“The chōng vessel commences at Qì Jiē (ST-30), it Chōng (Surges) in a straight line as it flows freely, thus it is known as the chōng [vessel].”
按衝脈有三歧，一歧上脊，一歧出氣衝，循腹上行，一歧下行注於足少陰之絡。原起於腎下，出於氣街，循陰股内廉，斜入委中，伏行骭骨内廉，並少陰之經，入内踝之後，入足下。
Note by [Master Sīlián]: the chōng vessel has three branches; one branch ascends along the [interior of the] spine; another branch emerges at Qì Chōng (ST-30) to follow and ascend the abdomen; the final branch descends to pour into the network-vessels of the foot shàoyīn. From its origin, it commences from below the kidneys, it then emerges at the Qì Jiē (ST-30), follows the inner ridge on the yīn of the thigh, travels obliquely to enter Wěi Zhōng (BL-40), becomes concealed as it travels along the inside of the inner ridge of the shin bone, enters behind the inner ankle [bone] with the channel of the shàoyīn, and continues to enter the bottom of the foot.
PS: The original work is extensively footnoted, which is omitted in this abbreviated post.
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PPPS: Image from Wellcome Collection.
