Qu means bending; Yuan means a low wall, describing the shoulder blades. The point is located at the bend of the medial end of the scapula, hence its name.

[Location]

Quyuan (SI13) acupoint
(quoted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In the center of the shoulder, in the center of the curved armor";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "In (Jianjing (GB21) and Tianzong (SI11) ), slightly outward."

[Anatomy]

• Muscles: trapezius, supraspinatus.
• Nerve: Overlapping distribution of lateral cutaneous branches of the posterior branches of the first to third thoracic nerves, accessory nerve, and suprascapular nerve branches.
• Vessels: transverse cervical artery and vein, deep branches of suprascapular artery and vein.

[Manipulation]

Perpendicular insertion or oblique insertion 0.5~1 inch. moxa cone moxibustion 3 to 10 minutes, moxa stick warm moxibustion for 10 to 15 minutes.

[Efficacy]

dispelling wind.

• Classical: scapula Zhoubi, shoulder and arm heat and pain, shoulder and arm stiffness and pain.
• Modern: shoulder periarthritis, supraspinatus tendonitis, subscapular neuralgia, cervical spondylosis.

[Recipe]

• Subscapular neuralgia: Quyuan (SI13), Naohui (TE13), Tianzong (SI11), Jianyu (LI15).
• Supraspinatus tendonitis: Quyuan (SI13), Binao (LI14), Yanglingquan (GB34) (all affected sides).