Intersecting point: intersecting point of hand yangming and heel vessel. Leijing Tuyi: "Intersecting point of hand taiyang, yangming, and yang heel vessel."

bubble_chart Etymology

"Jian" (肩), shoulder; "yu" (髃), front angle. The acupoint is located at the front of the shoulder bone (acromion of the scapula), hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

Jianyu (LI15) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Between the two bones at the shoulder joint";
• Qianjin Yaofang-Zhu Feng: "In the middle of shoulder joint" ;
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "Between the gaps of the two bones at the upper end of the shoulder blade, in the depression when the arm is raised to shoulder level (some sources state it is slightly more anterior). Directly below, aligned with the tip of the elbow crease when flexed. The arm should be relaxed and extended or rotated with the hand resting on the hip. Insert the needle slowly."

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: deltoid, subdeltoid bursa; deep layer has supraspinatus tendon.
• Nerve: The skin and subcutaneous tissue have dual distribution of the lateral brachial epithelial nerve and the supraclavicular nerve.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert the needle obliquely 1-1.5 cun toward the deltoid muscle area with the arm hanging down; or, when the arm is abducted, insert the needle deeply 1-2 cun along the anteromedial side of the humeral head toward the armpit. Apply moxibustion with 3-5 moxa cones or use a moxa stick for 5-10 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Disperse wind-dampness from meridians, clear and purge qi-fire from yangming meridian, promote joint mobility, and expel pathogenic factors to relieve heat.

• Classical: heat in the shoulder, cold shoulder, Bi syndrome in finger and arm pain, hemiplegia, half-body paralysis, heat-induced rashes, cramping and pain in the arm, weakness and thinness of the arm, soreness and pain in the muscles and bones, wind-dampness affecting both shoulders, and heat in the limbs.
• Modern: Stroke-induced hemiplegia, hypertension, periarthritis of shoulder, and urticaria.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Shoulder and arm pain: Jianyu (LI15), Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4).
• Scrofula: Jianyu (LI15), Quchi (LI11), Tianjing (TE10).
• Heat-induced wind rashes: Jianyu (LI15), Jiexi (ST41).
• Carcinoma of breast: Jianyu (LI15), Zusanli (ST36).