UB-10 Tianzhu - Heavenly Pillar
More Spirit Names: Celestial Pillar, Pole of Heaven, Heaven's Pillar
| English: | Celestial Pillar |
| Also Known As: | Heavenly Pillar Heaven Pillar Heavenly Pole |
Location
- 1.3 cun lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline and in the depression on the lateral aspect of the m. trapezius.
- On the lateral aspect of the trapezius muscle, 1.3 cun lateral to DU-15 Yamen.
- Note: First locate DU-16 Fengfudirectly below the occipital protuberance in a depression between the trapezius muscles. Then locate DU-15 Yamen which is 0.5 cun below DU-16 Fengfu in the depression 0.5 cun within the hairline. Now locate UB-10 Tianzhu, 1.3 cun lateral to DU-15 Yamen.
- Approximately 1.3 cun lateral to DU-15 Yamen on the back of the neck.
Needling
- Puncture perpendicularly 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness, sometimes extending to the top of the head.
- Caution: Do not point the needle upward where it might puncture the medulla oblongata.
Command Functions
- Window of Heaven point
- Sea of Qi point
Actions
- Expels Wind
- Pacifies Wind
- Regulates Qi
- Benefits the head and sensory orifices
- Clears the Brain
- Opens the orifices
- Soothes the sinews
- Removes obstruction from the channel
- Brightens the eyes
- Invigorates the lower back
- Calms the Shen
- Alleviates pain
Indications
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Combinations
Headache | Head wind | Dizziness |
SI-6 | UB-65 | |
Visual dizziness Dizziness of vision with bursting eye pain | Blurred vision Pain of the shoulder as if it were broken | Stiff neck with great aversion to Wind |
LIV-2 | M-UE-24 | |
Inability of the legs to support the body | Childhood fright epilepsy | Stiff neck |
LI-11 | ||
Pharyngitis Chronic cough |
Contraindications
Notes
- This is an important point to expel both Interior and Exterior Wind from the head,
- It is a major point for occipital or vertical headache.
Five Elements Spirit Perspective
| Spirit of the Point | Use Heavenly Pillar when the patient needs the heavens' strength to hold themselves up, stay strong and carry on in life. As a pillar it can bring an "I can" spirit and the courage to see, so that habitual mental negativity meets new possibilities. Being a Window of the Sky, it gives a fresh view to a spirit worn down by fear, suspicion or distrust. The neck, shoulders and upper back act as the chest's shock absorbers, and this point loosens, lubricates and relieves the tension held there. Like Penetrate Heaven it lets in freshness, clarity and light, but it also lets darkness and negativity out. As a pillar it keeps the spirit straight and upright, so a person can hold their head up and stand tall and the spirit's eye can see from a heavenly vantage. The trapezius quite literally supports the head, and the head stands for Heaven; as the spine is the body's pillar, this point is the spirit's pillar. In the old myth the body of the heavenly ancestor was the pillar joining Heaven and Earth, before humankind lost its original nature. |
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| Worsley | Makes certain we are secure in our relationship with the divine.
Location: 1.3 ACI from the posterior midline of the neck, about halfway along a curving line from DU-16 to GB-20. All three points lie below the bony ridge that sweeps outward along the nuchal line and below the external occipital protuberance. |
| When to Consider |
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| Combinations | |
| Notes |
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From Class
- BL-10 Tianzhu (Window of Sky) — Bladder divergent: The Bladder divergent rises to BL-10, a Window to Heaven point (Ling Shu ch.2), affecting the eyes, ears and sinuses over time. (Yuen)
- BL-10, GB-3 (lift toward heaven) & LU-3, HT-7 (grief) for the bereaved: For family who have difficulty grieving and letting go. (Lewis)
- Jing-wells, Du-26, Ren-24, Windows of Sky (BL-10, SI-16, SJ-16, SI-17): Jing-wells expel wind and revive; Du-26, Ren-24 revive spirit, clear wind and heat; Windows of Sky open orifices — BL-10 frees atlas/axis. (Shea)
- Lower/mid/upper brain point groups: Lower brain (survival, wind): GB-14–16, BL-10, GB-20, GB-12, Du-14; midbrain: GB-16–20, BL-8–10, GB-7–12; upper brain: Du-20 to Yintang, BL-2–7, GB-8, ST-8. (Gioioso)
- Bladder/Kidney divergent: Diverges at BL-40, enters sacrum, connects bladder and kidneys, runs along the spine (Huatuojiaji latency), rejoins at BL-10; its points boost back-pain treatments. (Pannell)
- Du Mai in children: Governor Vessel (esp. Mingmen) is considered contraindicated before puberty as it may affect growth — use the Bladder channel (BL-10 to BL-23) instead. (Yuen)
- Divergent treatment: lower + upper confluent points: Treat divergents with lower and upper confluent points: BL-40/BL-10 (BL-KI), ST-30/BL-1 (ST-SP), GB-22/BL-1 (HT-SI), ST-12/LI-18 (LU-LI), GB-1 as both for LV-GB. (Yuen)
- Treating wind: pacify, course, dispel: Pacify (sedate fire with the ying-spring point on the foot), course the wind (GB-4, GB-5, GB-6), or dispel via Taiyang (BL-9, BL-10, BL-11, BL-12). (Gioioso)