Lung 8: Jing Qu – Channel Gutter or Ditch

On the anterior forearm, ‘Channel Gutter’ lies about 1 cun proximal to the wrist crease on the radial side of the radial artery at the base of the styloid process.

This puts it on the line between Lung point 5 and Lung point 9.

To find it, run a finger from the wrist crease at Lung point 9 up the arm. Where it tips over the styloid process into the depression proximal to the radial bone is the point. It can be a little sore if pressed hard.

Acupuncturists sometimes worry that they’ll pierce the radial artery here, so they avoid it for that reason, but to breach the wall of an artery requires more force than most acupuncturists would ever think of employing.

Actions of Jing Qu

• Descends Lung Qi
• Metal Point. Being the Metal point of a Metal meridian, this point is used by some schools of acupuncture to strengthen the pure Metal nature of the Lungs: take this to mean the ability to be objective and detached. (Unfortunately for this purpose it should theoretically be needled between 3am and 5am and if possible not between 3pm and 5pm. However, although I prefer not to use it in the afternoon, it still seems to work then.) When taken with the fact that it is a Jing River point, see below, this makes more sense. Basically, it can help the Lungs function better.
• Being a Jing River point, like other Jing River points Jing Qu is helpful when Qi is not flowing properly, especially in relation to the lungs, ie good for respiratory problems such as cough or asthma arising from Cold or Heat.

Indications for Lung Point 8

Lung point 8 is the Metal point, it’s the Jing-River point (which means it is a powerful point for treating cough and difficulty in breathing, chills and fever) so you’d think it would be used to back up Lung point 7 orLung point 6 or perhaps Bladder 13 for full conditions: but it’s not.

Don’t know why.

Well, actually I do: it’s because many acupuncturists realise that it lies very close to the radial artery, is a shallow point because of the underlying radial bone, and it is therefore difficult, having obtained  deqi, to send qi in the desired direction: there isn’t much room to manipulate the needle.

This point’s name, however, is Channel Gutter: this suggests the  potential to drain undesirable qi, damp or phlegm: a clarifying, cleansing action, which is just what’s needed when your lungs are full of grunge, your mind is depressed and your spirit forlorn.

Jingqu action on the Mind

Our minds easily get obsessed these days, with money worries or the internet, friendships or our appearance. All of these tend to make us sit or stand with shoulders slumped, chest compressed.

Think of the benefits of striding uphill, body erect, deep cleansing breaths, and the sense of space and achievement we get from cresting a hill-top and seeing the city below: for a moment standing back from the hurly-burly and giving ourselves a more god-like vantage.

(Today’s Resolution: should use this point more often!)

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