Library

Shaoyin (Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian). Treated by Fuli (KI7, Replying Flow). When needling, combine with Feiyang (BL58, Flying Yang), the同名 (same-name) point. [Note: The nineteen characters from "upper cold of lower back pain" to "combined with vermilion text" are part of the classic text; excluding annotations, they are merged with the vermilion commentary. Comment: The New Correction states that "Quanyuanqi's edition, Jia Yi Jing, and Tai Su all lack these words from 'upper cold of lower back pain' onwards; this was added by Wang Bing. The current note mentions these nineteen characters, suspected not to be Wang Bing's words but likely added by later generations."] Lower back pain radiating to the hypogastrium and pulling into the empty soft area below the costal margin, making supine position impossible. [Comment: The New Correction states that "Jia Yi Jing reads 'unable to flex and extend'."] Needle at the crossing points of the lumbar sacrum on both sides, specifically on the muscle mass above the lateral malleolus region of the sacrum. Determine the number of needle insertions or retention time based on the waxing and waning of the moon. The pain ceases immediately upon needle insertion. This is due to pathogenic factors lodging in the Luo-connecting vessels of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. "Kong" (pulling/radiating) is synonymous with "Yin" (to pull/lead). "Di" refers to the hollow, soft area below the costal margin. "Yao Kao Jiao Zhe" (Lumbar-Sacral Crossing Points) refers to the four bony gaps on either side of the coccyx below the ankle/sacral level, totaling eight acupoints on the left and right. Colloquially, this bone structure is called the "Ba Liao Bones" (Eight Hollows). For this type of lower back pain, select the fourth gap below the lumbar-ankle region, which is Xi Liao (BL32, Lower Hollow). The Foot-Taiyin Spleen, Foot-Jueyin Liver, and Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder meridians cross and interconnect in the middle, hence termed "Lumbar-Sacral Crossing." "Liang Ke Shen" (Muscles above the two condyles/malleoli) refers to the firm, raised muscles below the two sacral condyles. "Shen Shang" does not refer to the very apex of the muscle mass, but rather the appropriate spot on the muscle belly itself; direct needling into the upper part of the muscle mass is indicated. Why? Because above the apex of the muscle mass lie Zhong Lv Shu (BL27, Middle Spine Shu) and Bai Huan Shu (BL30, White Ring Shu); although both treat lower back pain, their anatomical locations and indications do not fully correspond to the classic description. The "ankle bone" here refers to the prominent bones on both sides of the lumbar spine. Below the lumbar condyles on either side of the spine, there are muscle ridges sloping towards the posterior aspect of the condylar bones, internally supporting the condyles, thus called "two condylar muscles." Beneath these condylar muscles, on both the left and right sides, there are four bony gaps each, hence named Shang Liao (BL31, Upper Hollow), Ci Liao (BL32, Secondary Hollow), Zhong Liao (BL33, Middle Hollow), and Xia Liao (BL34, Lower Hollow). Shang Liao is located in the depression directly below the condylar bone; the other three are slightly oblique and downward, identified by palpable depressions. All four gaps treat lower back pain, but only the indication for Xia Liao matches the classic text exactly, representing the convergence of the Foot-Taiyin, Foot-Jueyin, and Foot-Shaoyang meridians. Needling depth: 2 cun. Retain needles for 10 respiratory cycles. Moxibustion: 3 moxa cones. "Number based on moon's waxing/waning": The period from new moon to full moon is "moon waxing" (Sheng Yue); from full moon to new moon is "moon waning" (Si Yue). Fewer needles during waning, more during waxing. The Treatise on Miao Stimulation states: "On the first day of the waxing moon, needle one point; on the second day, two points, increasing gradually; on the 15th day, 15 points; on the 16th day, 14 points, decreasing gradually." Thus, the number of needles is determined accordingly. Treat left-sided pain by needling the right side, and right-sided pain by needling the left side. (Pain on the left requires needling on the right; pain on the right requires needling on the left. This is because the meridians cross and interconnect in the mid-sacral region. Comment: The New Correction notes that "this section on lower back pain radiating to the hypogastrium duplicates content found in the Treatise on Miao Stimulation.")