"Tong" (通), to connect or pass through; "tian" (天), ​​refers to the top of head. The point is located on the top of head, where the foot taiyang bladder meridian (BL) connects with Baihui (GV20) at the vertex, hence the name. Also known as "Tianjiu" (天臼) (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing), "jiu" (臼) means depression, referring to the acupoint.

bubble_chart Location

Tongtian (BL7) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the head, 4 cun directly above the midpoint of anterior hairline and 1.5 cun lateral to the midline. It is located 1.5 cun posterior to Chengguang (BL6).

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "1.5 cun posterior to Chengguang (BL6)";
• Leijing Tuyi >: "Also said to be 1.5 cun lateral to Baihui (GV20)", thus locating it 1.5 cun beside Baihui (GV20).

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: galea aponeurotica.
• Nerve: branches of greater occipital nerve.
• Vessel: anastomotic network of superficial temporal artery and vein and occipital artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Subcutaneous insertion 0.3~1 cun along skin. Moxibustion is generally not applied.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispel wind and unblock orifice.

• Classical: heaviness and pain in head, nasal congestion with epistaxis, sinusitis with excessive nasal discharge, loss of smell, hemiplegia, crooked mouth and eyes, nuchal pain, vertigo, wheezing, hyperthyroidism, facial swelling, tinnitus, glaucoma, syncope, sudden onset of stiffness and collapse.
• Modern: sinusitis, rhinitis, hypertension, sequelae of wind stroke, enuresis, heel pain.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Headache: Tongtian (BL7), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Hegu (LI4).
• Rhinitis: Tongtian (BL7), Shangxing (GV23), Yintang (EX-HN3), Hegu (LI4) .