LI-17 Tianding - Heavenly Vessel
More Spirit Names: Celestial Tripod, Celestial Nape
| English: | Heaven's Tripod |
| Also Known As: | Heaven's Vessel |
Location
- Midway between LI-18 Futu and ST-12 Quepen, at the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
- On the lateral side of the neck, at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, at the midpoint between LI-18 Futu and ST-12 Quepen.
- On the lateral side of the neck, 1 cun inferior to LI-18 Futu, on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
- Oblique insertion 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Caution: deeper needling may puncture the carotid artery or jugular vein.
Command Functions
Actions
- Benefits the throat and voice
Indications
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Combinations
| PC-5 |
Halting speech Loss of voice |
Contraindications
Notes
- This point is said to bring clarity and wisdom.
Five Elements Spirit Perspective
| Spirit of the Point | Heavenly Vessel ranks among the Colon's strongest points. It gets rid of toxins on the mind and spirit level and acts as a window, good for cleaning out the vessel. The head, home of the brain, the store of the original spirit, is the precious vessel this point supports, and keeping the neck open helps the Colon tell what is clear from what is turbid. It eases communication with Heaven and with the Father and brings clarity and wisdom. A heavenly vessel is what we are when negativity does not block us, bringing the quality and richness of Heaven's divine light. A simple vessel has no ego clinging to the old and blocking what is new. The point relates to the I Ching hexagram of the Cauldron, the ritual vessel used at banquets: the vessel has to be scoured of corruption so it can receive spirit, and be received by it, during the rite. So this point fosters the open receptivity needed to be fed by Heaven. |
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| Worsley | Location: At the back edge of sternocleidomastoid, roughly 1 ACI below LI-18. |
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