The great collateral of spleen.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Da" (大), big; "bao" (包), to contain. This acupoint is the great collateral of spleen, which extends throughout chest and hypochondrium, enveloping and regulating this area, hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

Dabao (SP21) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the lateral side of chest, at the midpoint of the line connecting the apex of axilla (Jiquan (HT1)) and the inferior border of the free end of 11th rib (Zhangmen (LR13)), approximately in 7th (or 6th) intercostal space, in a depression.

• Lingshu-Jingmai: "3 cun below Yuanye (GB22)";
• Zhenfang Liuji : "Directly 6 cun below axilla";
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian : "Level with Juque (CV14), and sometimes considered level with Qimen (LR14)";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng states "Horizontally aligned with Riyue (GB24)", with slight variations in description.

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: serratus anterior, internal and external muscles of seventh intercostal space.
• Nerve: terminal branch of long thoracic nerve, seventh intercostal nerve.
• Vessels: branches of thoracodorsal artery, intercostal arteries and veins.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert horizontally along the intercostal space 0.3~0.5 cun, do not insert deeply. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 ~ 5 rounds, moxibustion with moxa stick 10 ~ 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Soothe chest, benefit hypochondrium.

• Classical: chest and hypochondriac pain, wheezing, general body pain with all joints feeling loose.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Chest and hypochondriac pain: Dabao (SP21), Sanyangluo (TE8) through Ximen (PC4), Yangfu (GB38), Zulinqi (GB41).