Lingshu-Genjie: "The foot shaoyang is rooted at Qiuxu...enters Tianrong (SI17)...". Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing calls this point "where hand shaoyang meridian qi emerges". However, according to Waitai Miyao and Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing, it is now classified under the hand taiyang meridian.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Tian" (天) refers to upper part; "rong" (容), to contain or accommodate, referring to throat's ability to "contain" substances. The point is located near throat in neck, hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

Tianrong (SI17) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the lateral side of the neck, posterior to the angle of the mandible, in the depression at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Behind the curved cheek, below ear";
• Lingshujing Maiyi: "Below ear, behind the curved cheek" ;
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "Approximately one fen away from cheek, in the depression";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "Two cun and a bit posterior to Jiache (ST6)".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (at its insertion), inferior border of the posterior belly of digastric muscle.
• Nerves: the superficial layer includes anterior branch of great auricular nerve, cervical branch of facial nerve, and accessory nerve. The deep layer includes superior cervical ganglion of sympathetic trunk.
• Vessels: the front is superficial external jugular vein and internal jugular artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Have the patient lie supine with shoulders slightly elevated to fully expose neck. Use left hand to palpate and identify the pulsation of blood vessels. Insert between the medial border of sternocleidomastoid muscle and blood vessels. Insert at a 40° angle, directing it posteriorly, medially, superiorly, and slowly to a depth of 1~2 cun. Direct moxibustion is contraindicated. Moxibustion with an moxa stick for 10~15 minutes.

Clear throat and reduce swelling.

• Classical: deafness, tinnitus, pharyngeal swelling, pharyngitis with difficulty swallowing, neck abscess, inability to speak, cough with counterflow rising of qi, chest pain, chest fullness with difficulty breathing, vomiting with frothy saliva, locked jaw, wheezing, aversion to dust and smoke, hernia, chills and fever, neck scrofula with inability to turn head, goiter, shoulder pain with inability to lift arm, tooth decay with pain.
• Modern: acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, central vasospastic retinopathy, stroke.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Shoulder pain with inability to lift arm: Tianrong (SI17), Bingfeng (SI12).
• Neck swelling and pain with inability to turn head: Tianrong (SI17), Qiangu (SI2), Jiaosun (TE20), Wangu (SI4), Zhizheng (SI7).
• Deafness with buzzing sound like cicadas: Tianrong (SI17), Tinghui (GB2), Tinggong (SI19), Zhongzhu (TE3).
• Cough with counterflow rising of qi, wheezing, vomiting frothy saliva, and locked jaw: Tianrong (SI17), Lianquan (CV23), Pohu ( BL42), Qishe (ST11), Yixi (BL45), Futu (LI18).
• Acute tonsillitis: Tianrong (SI17), Shaoshang (LU11), Hegu (LI4), Quchi (LI11) .
• Pharyngitis: Tianrong (SI17), Tianzhu (BL10), Hegu (LI4).