LU-3 Tianfu (3 cun below axillary fold)
Window of Heaven point. These points regulate the ascending and descending of Qi from the body to and from the head: they do so in the crucial neck area. Therefore, they can both subdue rebellious Qi and promote the ascending of clear Qi to the head.
On a psychic level, LU-3 action in regulating the ascending and descending of Qi to and from the head has a mental-emotional effect. For example, insomnia is due to Qi ascending too much to the head (or not descending from it) while somnolence and forgetfulness are due to clear Qi not ascending to the head. The “Explanation of the Acupuncture Points” (1642) says that LU-3 can make Qi rise to treat forgetfulness, sadness and weeping due to Qi not rising to head. Forgetfulness is an important indication for this point: this is forgetfulness due to clear Qi not rising to the head. According to the “Explanation of the Acupuncture Points”, this point treats forgetfulness by stimulating the ascending of Qi of both Lungs and Heart.
The mention of weeping in this ancient text is interesting. It means that this point treats afflictions of the Lungs from sadness and grief leading to weeping.
Finally, “talking to ghosts” features heavily in this point's indications. Generally speaking, when ancient books mention such symptoms as talking or seeing ghosts among the indications of a point, it means that the point is indicated for relatively serious mental-emotional problems and, in particular, when the Mind is obstructed. Obstruction of the Mind can potentially cause serious mental problems such as manic-depression or psychosis. Again, this point can open the Mind's orifices, i.e. de-obstruct the Mind by regulating the ascending and descending of Qi to and from the head: it opens the Mind's orifices by promoting the descending of turbid Qi from the head and the ascending of clear Qi to the head (which, as we have seen above, is a general function of the Window of Heaven points).
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- With over 37-years of research and clinical experience, Giovanni Maciocia lectures, offers continuing education courses online and has written seven textbooks of Chinese medicine which have been acclaimed world-wide and translated into nine languages. He has also created two categories of formulae: The Three Treasures for the treatment of various common complaints and the Women’s Treasure for the treatment of gynaecological complaints. Giovanni Maciocia, whose Chinese name Ma Wan Li means “horse of ten-thousand miles”, has been teaching acupuncture and Chinese medicine internationally since 1974 and is one of the most highly respected practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in Europe. Because Giovanni reads Chinese, he has unique access to both old as well as modern Chinese medicine textbooks. While firmly rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, he innovatively adapts Eastern theories to Western conditions. Giovanni is Visiting Associate Professor of the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Giovanni currently lives and works in Santa Barbara, California.