(201) SJ20 (Angle of Vertex)

[HB KIM]

Clinical indication of SJ20 (Jiaosun)

1. Name
"Jiaosun" means "Angle of vertex", it simply refers to the location of SJ20 because the point is located directly above the ear apex, slightly above the hairline.  It is also to the line of the vertex.  This point is located on same longitude of ears and on same latitude of eyes.  Thus this point is the one of the best local points for both ear and eye disorders

2. Direction of Needling
A. Toward to Anterior (eye) direction: Eye disorders (keratitis, conjunctivitis, etc.)
B. Toward to Posterior (occipital) direction: Temporal headache (migraine, cluster headache, etc.)
C. Toward to Below (ear) direction: Ear disorders (pain in the ears, etc.)

3. Eye disorders
SJ20 can be used for various eye disoders, i.e., blurred vision, decreased eyesight, redness of eyes, and stye.  If a patient has acute Wind-Heat eye infection like conjunctivitis, use Sang Ju Yin with SJ20.  If a patient has painful and red eyes due to LV Fire, use Long Dan Xie Gan Tang with SJ20.  If a patient has a blurred vision due to Blood or Yin deficiency, use Si Wu Tang or Qi Ju Di Huang Wan with SJ20.

4. Ear disorders
For ear, SJ18, SJ19, and SJ20 are used as local points.  You can combine SJ2, SJ3, or SJ5 as distal points.  Three channels enter the ear (SI, GB, SJ), however for distal point, SJ channel is the best to treat ear disoders, i.e., deafness or tinnitus.  (*Refer to "Channel differentiation" on Handbook of Oriental Medicine by HB Kim, pg 107).

You can further differentiate the function of SJ21, SI19, and GB2 to the ears
SJ21 : structural problem of ears
SI19 : structural and functional problem of ears
GB2 : functional problem of ears

This point is for both Eye and Ear problems, but mainly for eye disorders rather than the ear.  SJ17 and SJ21 are more useful local for ear disorders.

5. Acupressure
Acupressure can also help for better eye and ear function.  For example, when you are tired in the class and can not see or hear well, that means your sense of vision and hearing is dull; there are many points for acupressure in this situation (GB20, SJ20, DU20, Taiyang, etc.), and SJ20 is one of the best point becasue it covers both eyes and ears. 
For people who wear glasses, it is right on SJ20.  So, it thus acupress that point constantly.  If the arms of that glasses is wide and thick, it can acupress even better.  If the glasses irritate SJ20 area, take off the glasses and gently massage that area.