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SP18

Spleen Channel

Celestial Stream

天溪Tiān Xī

Anatomical location

In the fourth intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

Main function

Regulates the Qi of the chest, promotes lactation, relieves cough.

Therapeutic indications

  • Chest pain
  • mastitis
  • agalactia
  • cough
  • scanty milk
  • hiccups

Name and classical tradition

Tianxi, 天溪, is the “Celestial Stream.” 天 indicates the upper part of the body, here the thorax; 溪 is the stream, the channel between landforms, which in this case are the ribs. A modern gloss explains that damp Qi rising from SP17 warms up and flows through this channel toward the upper chest. It has no classical support.

It is one of the points on the channel with the least historical information. Sources refer it back to the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), without a literal citation. Many points on other channels share the character 溪, such as KI3, Taixi, or LI5, Yangxi, but this is only the same stream metaphor, with no relationship among them.

Location of point SP18, Celestial Stream
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View point on the 3D modelSP18 on the anatomy
Needling techniqueOblique insertion 0.5-0.8 cun, directed laterally.
Depth0.5-0.8 cun
MoxibustionApplicable (3-5 minutes, indirect moxa)
PrecautionsAvoid deep needling so as not to injure the lung.
Cover of the guide “Protocols for the 20 most common patterns”

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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.

Do you use SP18 with your patients?

In the Clinic you record it in the patient's file, next to the tongue, the pulse and the measurements, so at the next session you know exactly what you used. The Atlas is built in.

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