Spleen Channel

Shidou SP-17

Chinese: 食窦

Pinyin: Shí Dòu

Location

6 cun lateral to the anterior midline, 2 cun lateral to the mamillary line, in the 5th intercostal space. 

How to locate

Nipples mostly falls in the 4th intercostal space. Find the 5th intercostal space by counting one down. Shidou SP-17 is in the 5th one. It is also 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline or 2 cun lateral to the mamillary line. 

Main actions

Resolves Food Stagnation

Indications

Cough Malaria Belching Jaundice Borborygmi Chest fullness Diaphragm pain Breast swelling Oesophageal pain Oedema of abdomen Abdominal distension Vomiting after eating Lateral costal region pain Undigested food in the stools Lateral costal region fullness

Needling

0.5–0.8 cun obliquely or transversely, parallel to the intercostal space or with or against the channel pathway.

Caution: Pneumothorax.

Commentary for Shidou SP-17

Shidou SP-17 is not a major point of the Spleen Channel. 

Its main function is to resolve Food Stagnation. Typical symptoms include belching, vomiting with indigested food in the stools, borborgymi as well as lateral costal region and abdominal distension and pain.