bubble_chart Category

One theory states its the meeting point of bone. Leijing Tuyi: "Dazhui is the meeting point of bone, and bone diseases can be treated with moxibustion here."

Intersecting point: three yang of hands and feet, and governor vessel.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Da" (大), big or great; "zhui" (椎), vertebra, originally referred to a hammering tool, but due to its resemblance, it was later used to describe vertebrae. Among vertebrae, the spinous process of 7th cervical vertebra is the most prominent, hence the name "Dazhui" (great vertebra). The acupoint is located here, hence the name. It is also known as "Bailao" (百勞, hundred fatigue), indicating its ability to tonify deficiency and treat fatigue.

bubble_chart Location

On the midline of neck and back, in the depression below the spinous process of 7th cervical vertebra. When head is lowered, the most prominent and movable point on the midline of neck is the spinous process of 7th cervical vertebra. The acupoint is located below this, between the spinous processes of 7th cervical vertebra and 1st thoracic vertebra.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In the depression above 1st vertebra";
• Zhouhou Beiji Fang: "At the prominent high point of the large joint on neck";
• Waitai Miyao: "Level with shoulders and obliquely aligned with the tall spine";
• Zhenjiu Daquan: "Level with shoulders, below the large vertebra". Another theory places it at the prominence of 7th cervical vertebra.
• Waitai Miyao: "Above it connects to neck bones, below it aligns with shoulders. It is located at vertebral joint, while other acupoints are below the joints";
• Leijing Tuyi : "When selecting acupoints along governor vessel on spine, they should be located at the prominent points of vertebral joints".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: thoracolumbar fascia, origin of trapezius muscle, supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament; deep layer, interarcuate ligament (ligamentum flavum).
• Nerve: posterior branch of 8th cervical nerve, medial branch of posterior ramus of 1st thoracic nerve, accessory nerve; inside ligamentum flavum: subdural space; interarcuate ligament is the subdural space; within spinal canal, spinal cord.
• Vessel: interspinous subcutaneous venous plexus.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert slightly upward, between spinous processes, to a depth of 0.5~1 cun. Avoid deep insertion to prevent damage to spinal cord, which could lead to paralysis or other severe consequences. If a strong electric sensation radiates downward, immediately withdraw the needle and take appropriate measures based on the patient's condition. For subcutaneous needling, insert the needle at the prominence of 7th cervical vertebra and direct it toward 1st thoracic vertebra for 1~2 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 20 minutes. When applying moxibustion, the acupoint can also be located at the prominence of spinous process. Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing: "When moxibustion is applied to vertebrae, it should be done at the prominent points of vertebral joints to be effective."

bubble_chart Efficacy

Rise yang, replenish qi, reduce fever, tonify deficiency.

• Classical: high fever in cold-damage, seasonal epidemic warm disease, five taxations and seven injuries, various deficiencies, shortness of breath and inability to speak, bone-steaming fever and night sweating, chest oppression, lung distension and hypochondriac fullness, cough with counterflow rising of qi, malaria, fever, irritability and vomiting, diarrhea, manic and depressive psychosis, epilepsy, spasm and convulsion, headache, goiter, neck stiffness and pain, stiffness in back and shoulders, heat not reaching shoulders, soreness in all joints, restless sleep, pediatric acute and chronic convulsions, dizziness, dizziness, blurred vision and tearing, red and swollen eyes, epistaxis.
• Modern: fever, heatstroke, common cold, influenza, bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, tuberculosis, whooping cough, tetanus, neurasthenia, schizophrenia, hysterical paralysis, thyroid diseases, jaundice, anemia, leukopenia, eosinophilia, post-splenectomy thrombocytosis, retinochoroiditis, urticaria, eczema, cervical spondylosis, upper limb paralysis, cerebral paralysis , tonsillitis, pharyngitis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Malaria: Dazhui (GV14), Jianshi (PC5), Houxi (SI3) or Dazhui (GV14), Yaoshu (GV2).
• Taiyang and Shaoyang combined disease (stiff neck and headache, or dizziness, occasional chest binding, and epigastric fullness) : Dazhui (GV14), Feishu (BL13), Ganshu (BL18).
• Phlegm-fire asthma: Dazhui (GV14), Zusanli (ST36).
• Cough: Dazhui (GV14), Chize (LU5), Fenglong (ST40).
• whooping cough: Dazhui (GV14), Sihua.
• Common cold fever: Fengchi (GB20), Dazhui (GV14), Quchi (LI11).
• Consumptive fatigue: Dazhui (GV14), Gaohuangshu (BL43).
• Night sweating: Dazhui (GV14), Houxi (SI3), Yinxi (HT6), Guanyuan (CV4).
• Leukopenia: Dazhui (GV14), Pishu (BL20), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6).