PC1 (Tianchi, “Celestial Pool”) is the Window of Heaven point of the Pericardium Channel Meridian. It is located on the lateral chest, in the fourth intercostal space, one cun posterior to the nipple and five cun lateral to the anterior midline. It is located three cun inferior to the axillary fold, between the ribs. It unbinds the chest, regulates Qi, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, and clears heat.
On the lateral chest, in the fourth intercostal space, one cun posterior to the nipple and five cun lateral to the anterior midline. It is located three cun inferior to the axillary fold, between the ribs.
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.5-0.8 cun along the intercostal space. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent pneumothorax.
Unbinds the chest, regulates Qi, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, and clears heat.
Headache, chest fullness, sound in the chest, vexation in the chest and diaphragm, heat diseases with no sweating, four limbs cannot be raised, axillary swelling, upward surging Qi, cold and heat, malarial disorders, arm pain, blurry vision, neck scrofula (fistula), cough, wheezing with throat sounds.
Classically, Tianchi is a key local point for unbinding the chest, treating conditions like fullness, wheezing, and cough. Its connection to the Gall Bladder channel and its designation as a Window of Heaven point also give it the ability to treat headache and regulate Qi flow between the head and torso. It is also frequently cited for resolving masses in the neck and axilla, such as scrofula and swollen nodes, particularly with moxibustion.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 腋脅下凡八穴第十八 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天池二穴，主寒熱胸膈煩滿，腋下腫，心中憺憺大動，煩心，心痛，喜笑不休，上氣，痎瘧The text records that PC1 (two points) was used for chills and fever with vexation and fullness of chest and diaphragm, swelling under the armpit, violent agitation in the heart, vexed heart, heart pain, incessant laughter, rising qi and intermittent malaria.
《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 ↗
天池二穴，在乳後一寸，腋下三寸，著脅直腋撅肋間，手厥陰足少陽脈之會。 針入三分，灸三壯According to this text, PC1 (two points) lies 1 cun behind the nipple and 3 cun below the armpit, between the ribs in line with the armpit, and is a meeting of the hand Jueyin and foot Shaoyang; it is needled 3 fen with 3 moxa cones.
PC1 is one of 9 points on the Pericardium Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
PC1 (Tianchi) is located on the lateral chest, in the fourth intercostal space, one cun posterior to the nipple and five cun lateral to the anterior midline. It is located three cun inferior to the axillary fold, between the ribs.
PC1 unbinds the chest, regulates Qi, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, and clears heat. Common clinical indications include headache, chest fullness, sound in the chest, vexation in the chest and diaphragm, heat diseases with no sweating, four limbs cannot be raised, axillary swelling, upward surging Qi, cold and heat, malarial disorders, arm pain, blurry vision, neck scrofula (fistula), cough, wheezing with throat sounds.
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.5-0.8 cun along the intercostal space. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent pneumothorax. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall.
PC1 is a point on the Pericardium Channel Meridian (Xīnbāo Jīng).