Small Intestine 7: Zhizheng ‘Upright Branch’

Small Intestine 7 is the seventh point on the Small Intestine acupuncture channel.

• Luo-connecting point

Location

The point lies on the anterior face of the arm, 5 cun proximal to Small Intestine 5, on a line between Small intestine 5 and Small Intestine 8.

In my experience, needling provokes just a strong deqi sensation locally.

Moxa

Moxibustion: up to 4 cones.

Actions

• Quietens the Spirit
• Opens the channel and thereby reduces pain
• Clears Heat and releases it to the Exterior

• Because Small Intestine 7 Zhizheng clears Heat and quietens the Spirit, it has been used for calming worry or grief or apprehension but also for manic insanity. When used with Bladder 58 it forms a specific ancient prescription to calm the Spirit and clear and awaken the brain, as for example in the syndrome Heart Phlegm-Fire: consequently it may help symptoms such as headache, dizziness and visual disturbances
• Because of the luo-connecting pathway of the Small Intestine, Zhizheng is useful for  for calming the Heart, for example when there are big swings in mood … 
• … and for pain up the arm (including the elbow) or in the shoulder.

• Enhances the production of Jin Ye fluid production (Peter Holmes) especially if used with Small Intestine 8. Hence it helps to strengthen Kidney Yin and Water.

List of Luo-connecting points

• Lung 7, Lieque
• Large Intestine 6, Pianli
• Stomach 40, Fenglong
• Spleen 4, Gongsun
• Heart 5, Tongli
• Small Intestine 7, Zhizheng – this page
• Bladder 58 Feiyang
• Kidney 4, Dazhong
• Pericardium 6, Neiguan
• Three Heater 5, Waiguan
• Gallbladder 37 Guangming
• Liver 5, Ligou