Bladder 1: Jing Ming – Bright Eyes

• Bladder 1, Jing Ming, is the Entry point for the Bladder acupuncture channel. Read more about Entry and Exit points here. Its Exit point is another really interesting point, Bladder point 67.

Consequently it has many useful properties. It’s just a pity that many patients are anxious when it is used – understandably!

Location of Jing Ming

0.1 cun superior and 0.1 cun medial to the medial canthus of the eye, between the two veins (if you can see them) or in the centre of the crease there if it runs this far towards the centre.

Needling depth at Bladder 1

Needle this point Jing Ming perpendicularly to the skin, up to 4 mms deep. Please do not attempt to use this point until you have received effective clinical supervision!

The best way to do it is to suggest the patient closes his eyes and looks away from the side being needled (ie if you are needling his left eye he looks off to the left behind closed eyelids) while you push the eyeball away – laterally – then insert the needle slowly, with no twirling.

With practice, this point is no more difficult to use than any other point. However, occasionally there is bruising which makes the patient look as if he has been hit in the eye, so it is best to warn him and seek his agreement before using it.

 

 

Please do not go deeper than 4mm – 5 mm at most.

More than 5mm?

You may have read of eccentric acupuncturists happy to needle this point with 6 inch needles! Well, such acupuncturists possibly live in countries where  anything is better than their orthodox medicine. Also those countries have more relaxed laws of assault!

For this reason, it is best not to needle Bladder 1 if someone is about to go out on a date or due to make a speech or appear in public.

The point is not actually sore to needle but its location tends to frighten patients. They need plenty of reassurance. 

Needling sensation

The sensation usually extends over the entire eyeball with a mild electrical sensation.

Actions of Bladder 1

• Expels Wind and clears Heat
• Of general benefit to the eyes, (although often combined for this purpose with Gall-Bladder 37)
• Entry point for the Bladder meridian so can help balance adjacent meridians or, with Bladder point 67, as Entry Exit points.
• As a meeting point for so many meridians, this point has a potentially highly beneficial effect on the whole Qi of the body, physically and mentally. That’s because all the zangfu mentioned above (… Sanjiao, Small Intestine, Stomach, Governor …) are affected when this point is treated. This point gives them all a kind of ‘pep-talk’!

Eye Problem Indications for Bladder 1

Eye problems: useful for both Excess and Deficiency problems of the eyes: 

Excess symptoms in terms of heat and inflammation, retinitis, conjunctivitis, swelling, phlegm, pain, blurring, itching, photophobia

Deficiency in terms of tiredness, dimmed vision, colour blindness, poor night vision, myopia, tears flowing on exposure to wind or bright light, drooping eyelids, blindness and visual dizziness.

However, I wouldn’t advise you to treat just this point if you habitually have tired eyes and dimmed vision etc. Habitual tiredness requires a deeper understanding. It could be caused by stress (which Qi Stagnation is very like) or Damp or deficient Blood or by many other factors. A good supply of Blood is really important for your eyes, especially if you stare at screens all the time.

Spirit of Jing Ming

Although not specifically much used for affairs of the spirit (ie to cheer people up), the name of Bladder 1 – Bright Eyes – suggests that it has strong potential here.

I have found it does perk people up, but then their adrenaline tends to flow a bit anyhow when you announce your intention to use it!