Sundance Acupuncture

Herb & Acupuncture Database

(This is my own personal database of teachers, teachings and notes that I use in my practice. I’ve decided to share it freely with anyone who would like to reference it.)

DU-11 Shendao - Spirit Path

More Spirit Names: Mind Way, Way of the Spirit

English:	Spirit Pathway
Also Known As:	Mind Way Spirit's Path Spiritual Way Spirit Path

Location

Located inferior to the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra, on the posterior midline (five intervertebral spaces below C7).

Needling

Puncture obliquely upward 0.5 to 1 cun.
Moxibustion is applicable.
Slanted insertion 0.5 to 1 cun.
Caution: the spinal canal lies 1.25 to 1.75 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build.

Command Functions

Actions

Regulates the Heart
Calms the Shen
Relaxes the chest
Tonifies the Heart and Lungs
Clears Heat
Pacifies Wind

Indications

Asthma
Cough
Chest and hypochondriac pain
Anxiety and palpitations due to fear
Neurasthenia
Aphasia due to windstroke
Forgetfulness
Insomnia
Sadness
Disorientation
Timidity with shortness of breath
Lack of Qi
Taxation consumption
Fever due to injury by Cold with a headache that comes and goes
Heat in the body
Dizziness
Heat in the Liver
Hot dyspnea

Fever and chills
Tetany
Difficulty closing the mouth due to spasm
Poor memory
Pain and stiffness of the back
Cardiac pain
First aid for mad dog bites
Fever
Malaria
Heart disease
Seizures
Intercostal neuralgia
Childhood Wind epilepsy
Clonic spasm
Childhood fright Wind
Lockjaw
Pain and Cold sensations of the upper back

Combinations

KI-21 Youmen LU-7 Lieque UB-43 Gaohuangshu	UB-15 Xinshu SJ-10 Tianjing	SJ-2 Yemen SJ-10 Tianjing DU-20 Baihui
Poor memory	Sadness Anxiety Disorientation	Fright palpitations
UB-15 Xinshu	REN-4 Guanyuan
Frequent attacks of Wind epilepsy	Heat in the body with a headache that comes and goes

Contraindications

Some classical texts forbid needling this point.

Notes

This point's actions mostly used for Excess patterns of the Heart.
Using moxa on this point strengthens the Heart.
This point is located at the same level as UB-15 Xinshu and UB-44 Shentang.

Five Elements Spirit Perspective

Spirit of the Point	Spirit Path is the Supreme Controller's area of the body, the path of the patient's spirit as it unfolds through their life. Since the Heart stores the spirit, this point may be called a path to the spirit. It regulates the Heart, settles the spirit and relaxes the chest, and it helps the person keep to their path with the upright strength of the Governor Vessel. It clears a path and gives the spirit room to move on every level, getting the person onto their spiritual path once the spirit has been reawakened. Having climbed the tower to look around, the spirit must come down and onto its path to do its work; if it can't get through, a person may go berserk or become extremely nervous. A person can even become addicted to the insight of peak states.
Worsley	Worsley gives it as a First Aid point for insensibility, convulsions and bites. Location: On the back midline, in the dip between the T5 and T6 spinous processes. Needle depth: Do not needle Moxa: 3-5 cones
When to Consider	When there is difficulty in giving and receiving love, ideas and feelings in relationships When there is sadness and a deep lack of joy When Fire disturbs the spirit, with hyperactivity, agitation or mental confusion When the shock of a divorce, of losing someone loved, or of a terminal diagnosis produces a 'high', and the person seems inappropriately happy, as if in denial When someone has had a peak experience and needs to come down 'off the mountain' and use that knowledge in the world
Combinations	DU-10 Spirit Tower with DU-11: to quiet the Heart and sedate any tendency toward mania
Notes	Plays a role similar to Within the Breast (REN-17), but on the Governor Vessel

From Class

BL-44 Shentang & Du-11 (Bao Mai): On the Bladder divergent re-emergence, points of the heart region (BL-44, Du-11) create the low back–chest relationship called Bao Mai — Heart–Kidney communication. (Yuen)

For educational reference only; not a substitute for care from a qualified practitioner.