LI17 (Tianding, “Heaven's Tripod”) is an acupuncture point on the Large Intestine Meridian. It is located on the lateral side of the neck, at the level of the cricoid cartilage, on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle; 1 cun inferior to LI18 (Futu). It benefits the throat and voice, clears heat and dissolves phlegm.
On the lateral side of the neck, at the level of the cricoid cartilage, on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle; 1 cun inferior to LI18 (Futu).
Perpendicular insertion 0.3 to 0.5 cun. Avoid deep insertion near the carotid artery and internal jugular vein.
Benefits the throat and voice, clears heat and dissolves phlegm.
Sudden loss of voice, sore and swollen throat, difficulty swallowing, plum-pit qi, scrofula, goitre.
A local point for the throat and voice: sudden loss of voice, swelling and pain of the throat, scrofula and goitre.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之八·陰陽臟腑部 · 穴法下 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天鼎二穴，在頸缺盆氣舍後一寸半，直扶突曲頰下，手陽明脈氣所發，可灸三壯，針入三分According to this text, LI17 lies on the neck above the supraclavicular fossa, 1.5 cun behind Qishe, straight below Futu under the curve of the jaw, where hand yangming qi emerges; 3 moxa cones, needle 0.3 cun.
《普濟方·針灸門》 Pǔjì Fāng · Zhēnjiǔ Mén — Formulas for Universal Relief: Acupuncture & Moxibustion Section, Zhu Su, 1406 · 卷四百十五 · 針灸門 · 側頸項部左右十八穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天鼎（一名天頂）二穴 在頸缺盆直扶突後一寸。 灸三壯。 針三分According to this text, LI17 (also called Tianding) lies on the neck above the supraclavicular fossa, 1 cun behind Futu; 3 moxa cones, needle 0.3 cun.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
天鼎侧颈直缺盆、扶突后一寸。 针入四分，灸三壮。 主暴暗气哽，咽喉痹肿，喘息不食The text records that LI17, on the side of the neck above the supraclavicular fossa and 1 cun behind Futu, was needled 0.4 cun with 3 moxa cones for sudden loss of voice with choking qi, throat obstruction and swelling, and panting with inability to eat.
《針灸逢源》 Zhēnjiǔ Féngyuán — Sources of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Li Xuechuan, 1815 · 卷四 · 經穴考正 · 手陽明大腸經穴考 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天鼎 在頸中缺盆上直扶突後一寸（針三分。 灸三壯）治暴喑氣哽According to this text, LI17 lies on the neck above the supraclavicular fossa, 1 cun behind Futu; needle 0.3 cun, 3 moxa cones, and it was used for sudden loss of voice with choking qi.
LI17 is one of 20 points on the Large Intestine Meridian. Nearby points:
LI17 (Tianding) is located on the lateral side of the neck, at the level of the cricoid cartilage, on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle; 1 cun inferior to LI18 (Futu).
LI17 benefits the throat and voice, clears heat and dissolves phlegm. Common clinical indications include sudden loss of voice, sore and swollen throat, difficulty swallowing, plum-pit qi, scrofula, goitre.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3 to 0.5 cun. Avoid deep insertion near the carotid artery and internal jugular vein. Caution: Adjacent to the carotid artery — palpate and avoid the vessel; do not needle into a pulsating artery.
LI17 is a point on the Large Intestine Meridian (Shǒu Yángmíng Dàcháng Jīng).