Upper Clarity

上明Shàng Míng

Anatomical location

On the superior border of the orbit, at the midpoint of the supraorbital rim.

Main function

Benefits the eyes.

Therapeutic indications

Myopia
optic nerve atrophy
conjunctivitis

Name and classical tradition

Shangming, 上明, is the “clarity above”: 上, above; 明, clarity, the light of the eyes. It lies at the center of the upper rim of the orbit, above the eye, and the name presents it as a point for vision.

It is a point of modern ophthalmological acupuncture, like EX-HN7, Qiuhou, which lies on the lower rim, and it does not appear in the classical works we were able to check. Just above, at the center of the eyebrow, is EX-HN4, Yuyao, which the Zhenjiu Dacheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) does record.

Location of point EX-SHANGMING, Upper Clarity — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-SHANGMING on the anatomy

Needling techniquePress the eyeball downward and insert perpendicularly, hugging the orbital rim, without manipulation (analogous to Qiuhou).

Depth0.5-1 cun

MoxibustionNot applicable.

PrecautionsDelicate point because of its proximity to the eyeball: for experienced hands only.

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.