Intersecting point: hand taiyang, yang link vessel, and yang heel vessel.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Nao" (臑), upper arm. The acupoint is located on the back of upper arm, close to the back, hence it is called "shu" (俞).

bubble_chart Location

Naoshu (SI10) acupoint
(quoted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Below the large bone behind shoulder blade, in the depression on the upper edge of scapula";
• Qianjin Yaofang‧: "Beside Jianyu (LI15), behind the large bone of shoulder";
• Zhenjiu Dacheng: "Beside shoulder and upper arm, behind the large bone of shoulder";
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "1.5 cun below (should be above, not below) Jianzhen (SI9)";
• Yizong Jinjian: "From Jianzhen (SI9), ascending towards shoulder tip, above arm at the lower part of shoulder bone";
• Suwen Zhijie: "Following the curve of armpit upwards to the shoulder blade, there lie two Naoshu (SI10) points".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: posterior part of deltoid muscle, deep layer is infraspinatus muscle.
• Nerve: The superficial layer is the branches of the posterior branch of supraclavicular nerve and the branches of lateral brachial cutaneous nerve and axillary nerve from axillary nerve. The deep layer is suprascapular nerve.
• Vessels: posterior circumflex humeral artery and vein, deep layer is suprascapular artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert perpendicularly or slightly obliquely forward and downward to a depth of 1~2 cun. If the needle penetrates deeply to the medial edge of humeral neck, it may reach axillary nerve and the lower part of brachial plexus. If the needle is directed obliquely forward and upward, it may reach the vicinity of suprascapular notch, where suprascapular nerve and suprascapular artery and vein reside. If the needle is directed obliquely outward (toward the lateral side of humerus), it may reach a branch of axillary nerve. If the needle is directed obliquely downward (toward the medial side of humerus), it may reach the vicinity of radial nerve. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 rounds, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

• Classical: chills and fever, shoulder and arm pain with inability to lift arm, arm soreness and weakness, shoulder swelling causing pain in scapula, shin pain.
• Modern: upper limb paralysis, scapulohumeral periarthritis, mastitis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Upper limb paralysis: Jianyu (LI15), Naoshu (SI10), Quchi (LI11).
• Breast swelling and pain: Tanzhong (CV17), Naoshu (SI10).