Bright Eyes
Meeting point of the Bladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Gall Bladder and Sanjiao channels with the Governing, Yin Motility and Yang Motility vessels.
LOCATION
0.1 cun medial and superior to the inner canthus of the eye, near the medial border of the orbit
NEEDLING
i. Perpendicular insertion 0.2 to 0.3 cun; ii. Caution: the following needling method should not be attempted by those who have not had appropriate clinical supervision: ask the patient to close their eyes and to direct the eyes as far as possible towards the side being needled, i.e. when
needling left Jingming BL-1, the patient should look to the left and vice-versa. With the forefinger of one hand, gently push the eyeball to the lateral side and hold it firmly. Insert the needle slowly perpendicularly with the other hand, without lifting, thrusting or rotating to a depth of
0.5 to 1 cun. Immediately on withdrawal of the needle, press firmly with a cotton wool ball for about a minute to prevent haematoma. Note: according to several classical and modern texts, this point is contraindicated to moxibustion.
ACTIONS
Benefits the eyes
Expels wind and clears heat.
INDICATIONS
• Redness, swelling and pain of the eyes, lacrimation on exposure to wind, redness and itching of the inner canthus, blurred vision, dimness of vision, night blindness, photophobia, colour blindness, visual dizziness, near sightedness, superficial visual obstruction, aversion to cold with headache.
COMMENTARY
Jingming BL-1 (Bright Eyes) is the meeting point of all the yang channels (except the Large Intestine) and the Governing, Yang Motility and Yin Motility vessels. Although the pathology of eye diseases is complex and varied, they may be summarised as due to i. exterior pathogenic
factors (mostly wind and heat), or ii. to deficiency or excess patterns of interior disharmony. Yang governs the exterior, and due both to its location and the fact that most of the yang channels meet at this point, Jingming BL-1 is the primary local point for the treatment of virtually any
eye disease of exterior origin. It was traditionally indicated for redness, swelling, pain, lacrimation, itching and blurred vision. Equally, Jingming BL-1 is an essential local point for the treatment of eye diseases due to interior
disharmony, whatever the pathology, and was traditionally indicated for night blindness, photophobia, blurred vision, visual dizziness etc., and in modern times for glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy, pterygium, astigmatism, optic neuritis, retinal haemorrhage and early cataract.
COMBINATIONS
• Liver qi night blindness: Jingming BL-1 and Xingjian LIV-2 (One Hundred Symptoms).
• Redness, swelling and unbearable pain of both eyes with photophobia: needle Jingming BL-1 and Yuwei (M-HN-7) and bleed Taiyang (M-HN-9) (Song of the Jade Dragon).
• When Jingming BL-1 is ineffective in treating diseases of the eye, combine it with Hegu L.I.-4 and Guangming GB-37 (Ode of Xi-hong).
• Lacrimation on exposure to wind: Jingming BL-1, Touwei ST-8, Fengchi GB-20 and Toulinqi GB-15 (Great Compendium).
• Superficial visual obstruction: Jingming BL-1, Hegu L.I.-4 and Sibai ST-2 (Great Compendium).