Huatuojiaji

English:	Hua Tuo's Paravertebral Points
Also Known As:	Hua Tuo Bilateral Spinal Points Hua Tuo's Back-Filling Points

Location

• 0.5 to 1 cun lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the twelve thoracic and five lumbar vertebra.
  Note: in clinical practice the points located 0.5 to 1 cun lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the seven cervical vertebrae are used as additional Huatuojiajipoints.
• A group of points located about 0.5 to 1 cun lateral to the inferior end of the spinous processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
• On both sides of the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun from the midline in correspondence with the intervertebral spaces from the first thoracic to the fifth lumbar vertebrae.

Needling

• Perpendicular-oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
• Straight insertion for needling the nerve root, pointed slightly toward the spine, 1.5 cun deep for the cervical and thoracic points, 2.5 cun deep for the lumbar points. Sensation: local distention and soreness, or an electric, numb sensation extending to the limbs and between the ribs.
• Slanted insertion for arthritis of the vertebral joints, pointed into the 1ntraspinal ligament, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness extending around the point.
• Puncture perpendicularly 0.5 to 1 cun in the cervical and chest region. Puncture perpendicularly 1 to 1.5 cun in the lumbar region.
• Moxibustion is applicable.

Command Functions

Actions

• Regulates and harmonizes the five Zang and six Fu

Indications

The points from the first to the fourth thoracic vertebrae treat disorders of the Lungs and upper limbs The points from the fourth to the seventh thoracic vertebrae treat disorders of the Heart The points from the seventh to the tenth thoracic vertebrae treat disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder The points from the tenth to the twelfth thoracic vertebrae treat disorders of the Spleen and Stomach The points from the first to the second lumbar vertebrae treat disorders of the Kidneys The points from the third to the fifth lumbar vertebrae treat disorders of the Bladder, Large and Small Intestines, uterus and lower limbs The points from the first to the seventh cervical vertebrae treat disorders of the Neck

All of the points treat herpes zoster at the level of the affected segmental nerve All of the points treat pain and stiffness of the local nerve All Internal organ disorders and symptoms Problems of the spine Problems of the adjacent tissues and extremities, including atrophy disorder C1 to C4: Head region C1 to C7: Neck region C4 to C7: Upper extremities C7 to T9: Chest cavity T8 to L5: Abdominal cavity T11 to L5: Lumbosacral region L2 to S2: Lower extremities L2 to S4: Pelvic cavity

Combinations

Contraindications

Notes

• These points are named after the famous doctor Hua Tuo who lived during the Han dynasty. He is said to have used these points rather than the Back-Shu points.
• They are often used as local points for backache and are particularly useful to correct deviations of the vertebrae.
• Another segmental breakdown: T1 to T3 for the upper limbs, T1 to T8 for the chest, T6 to L5 for the abdomen, and L1 to L5 for the lower limbs.