(277) UB17 (Diaphragm Shu)

[HB KIM]

UB17 (Ge Shu; Diaphragm Shu)

1. Blood Influential point (Hui-meeting point)
Since it is the influential point of Blood, UB17 can be used for all kinds of blood disorders including Blood Deficiency, Blood Stasis, Heat in the Blood, or bleeding.  There are many ways to use this point.  One common usage is for Blood Deficiency + Blood Stasis, in which case it functions like Si Wu Tang and targets Liver Blood more than Heart Blood.  This function of UB17 can treat menstrual disorders resulting from Blood Deficiency or Blood Stasis such as amenorrhea, light scanty menses, dysmenorrhea, or dark menstrual clots.  UB17’s ability to treat Blood Heat makes it an important point for treating skin disorders that result from Heat in the Blood such as itchy red skin, eczema, or carbuncles.  For bleeding due to Blood Stasis, UB17 functions similarly to the herbs Qian Cao Gen, Pu Huang and San Qi, or the formula Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan.  UB17 + SP10 is a powerful combination to move the Blood.

2. Hiccups
The name of UB17, Ge Shu (Diaphragm Shu), is indicative of its proximity to the diaphragm.  Therefore, Ge Shu can treat hiccups, which result from spasm of the diaphragm.  Other points useful for treating hiccups include RN12, PC6, ST36.  There are many ways to treat hiccups.  For acute hiccups, instruct the patient to inhale deeply and hold it; strongly stimulate the patient’s LI4 bilaterally with your thumbs until they release their breath.  For chronic hiccups, apply moxa to UB17, SJ17, RN12, RN17, ST36, and ST41.

3. Chest disorders
UB17 has the ability to open the chest.  This makes it applicable for emotional disorders caused by stagnation or obstruction of Qi in the chest, for example irritability, anger, or depression.

4. Esophageal and Gastric disorders
UB17 is useful for any type of esophageal or gastric disorders including esophageal stenosis, esophageal cancer, vomitus nervosus, and food retention.  For food retention, the technique is to apply Tui Na pressing or tapping to UB17, UB20 and UB21.  Apply moxa for chronic gastritis or gastric cancer.  For acute gastritis, bleeding UB20 and UB21 is more effective.

5. Sexual Frigidity
Stimulation of UB17 can reduce sexual frigidity, especially in women. This function could be attributed to UB17's actions on the Blood.  Women are more yin in nature, making them subject to disorders of the Blood, which can easily affect their reproductive systems and sexual drive.  Modern neurology links the T7 spinal nerve to both the digestive and reproductive systems.  Interestingly, in many types of dance the man's hand is positioned in the UB17 area.  Understanding the function of UB17 adds insight to the importance of dance as part of the courting ritual.

6. Upper & Middle Jiaos
UB17 is located at the borderline between the Upper and Middle Jiaos.  UB17 is at the level of T7, even with DU9.  There is no regular acupuncture point at the level of T8 (although there is an extra point, Wei Guan Xia Shu, for the treatment of diabetes).  For this reason, UB17 is like the first line of defense to help prevent Heat from rising from the Middle Jiao into the Upper Jiao.

7. Four Flower Technique
Needling UB17 + UB19 bilaterally is called the Four Flower Technique.  This combination can nourish Blood, treat Blood Deficiency, cough, and asthma.  While the classic Four Flower is UB17 + UB19, an alternate clinical combination is UB18 + UB19.