SP18 (Tianxi, “Celestial Stream”) is an acupuncture point on the Spleen Channel Meridian. It is located on the lateral chest, in a depression 1.6 cun inferior to Xiongxiang (SP19). This point is located with the patient in a supine position. It is described as being on a vertical line 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline. It unbinds the chest, regulates and descends Qi, promotes lactation and resolves swelling.
On the lateral chest, in a depression 1.6 cun inferior to Xiongxiang (SP19). This point is located with the patient in a supine position. It is described as being on a vertical line 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.5-0.8 cun along the intercostal space. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent pneumothorax.
Unbinds the chest, regulates and descends Qi, promotes lactation and resolves swelling.
Cough with upwardly surging Qi, chest pain, chest fullness, wheezing with sounds in the throat, breast swelling, breast abscess, ulcerated breast abscess, breast pain with a sense of fullness in the chest, sudden obstruction in the throat with gurgling sounds.
Tianxi is a key local point for both respiratory and mammary disorders. Its classical indications for cough with rebellious Qi and chest fullness make it useful for asthma, bronchitis, and intercostal neuralgia. It is particularly noted for treating breast issues, including mastitis, abscesses, and insufficient lactation, by promoting the free flow of Qi and blood in the chest.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《類經圖翼》 Lèijīng Túyì — Illustrated Wings to the Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 卷六 · 經絡（四） · 足太陰脾經穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天溪 在胸鄉下一寸六分陷中，仰而取之。 刺四分，灸五壯。 主治胸滿喘逆上氣，喉中作聲，婦人乳腫賁癰According to this text, SP18 lies 1.6 cun below Xiongxiang (SP19), located with the face upward; needle 0.4 cun, moxibustion 5 cones. It was used for chest fullness with wheezing and rising qi, noise in the throat, and swelling and abscess of the breast in women.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之一·神照集 · 足太陰脾經圖穴十一 · 足太陰脾經所發二十一穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天溪二穴，在胸鄉下一寸六分，陷者中，夾任脈兩旁各六寸，仰而取之。 《針經》刺入四分，灸五壯According to this text, SP18 lies 1.6 cun below Xiongxiang (SP19), in the depression 6 cun on each side of the Ren vessel, located with the face upward; the Zhenjing gives needling 0.4 cun and 5 moxa cones.
《針灸逢源》 Zhēnjiǔ Féngyuán — Sources of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Li Xuechuan, 1815 · 卷四 · 經穴考正 · 足太陰脾經穴考 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天溪 在胸鄉下一寸六分。 去中各六寸。 仰取之。 （針四分。 灸五壯）治胸滿上氣According to this text, SP18 lies 1.6 cun below Xiongxiang (SP19), 6 cun from the midline, located with the face upward; needle 0.4 cun, moxibustion 5 cones. It was used for chest fullness with rising qi.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
天谿 胸鄉下一寸六分陷中，去胸中行各六寸，仰而取之。 銅人針四分，灸五壯。 主胸中滿痛，賁膺欬逆上氣，喉中作聲，婦人乳腫According to this text, SP18 lies in the depression 1.6 cun below Xiongxiang (SP19), 6 cun from the chest midline, located with the face upward; the Tongren gives needling 0.4 cun and 5 moxa cones. It was used for fullness and pain in the chest, distress of the chest with cough and rising qi, noise in the throat, and breast swelling in women.
SP18 is one of 21 points on the Spleen Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
SP18 (Tianxi) is located on the lateral chest, in a depression 1.6 cun inferior to Xiongxiang (SP19). This point is located with the patient in a supine position. It is described as being on a vertical line 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
SP18 unbinds the chest, regulates and descends Qi, promotes lactation and resolves swelling. Common clinical indications include cough with upwardly surging Qi, chest pain, chest fullness, wheezing with sounds in the throat, breast swelling, breast abscess, ulcerated breast abscess, breast pain with a sense of fullness in the chest, sudden obstruction in the throat with gurgling 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.
SP18 is a point on the Spleen Channel Meridian (Zú Tài Yīn Pí Jīng).