Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Taiyang

Jing-Luo System

Traveling course of the regular meridian 

It starts from the ulnar side of the tip of the little finger at SI 1 Shaoze , goes along the ulnar side of the dorsum of the hand and the posterior portion of the lateral aspect of the arm to the shoulder joint, runs around the scapular region, meets the Du Meridian at DU 14 Dazhui , turns downward to the supraclavicular fossa, communicates with the heart, and homes to the small intestine.

The branch from the supraclavicular fossa ascends to the neck, cheek and outer canthus, turns back, and enters the ear.

The branch from the cheek runs upward to the infraorbital region and ends at the inner canthus to link with the Bladder Meridian [BL 1 Jingming ].

Traveling course of the divergent meridian

It diverges from the regular Small Intestine Meridian on the shoulder, descends to enter the axilla, crosses the heart, and runs downward to the abdomen to connect with the Small Intestine Meridian.

Traveling course of the collateral

It separates from the regular Small Intestine Meridian at SI 7 Zhizheng  and connects with the Heart Meridian. A branch travels upward, crosses the elbow, and connects with LI 15 Jianyu .

The muscle region

It starts at the tip of the little finger, knots at the dorsum of the wrist, and continues to travel upward along the ulnar side of the arm to bind at the medial condyle of the humerus in the elbow, where, if it is tapped, the sensation rapidly spreads to the little finger. It ascends the arm and binds at the axilla. Then a branch goes backward to the posterior aspect of the axilla, curves upward along the scapula, comes out in front of the Bladder Meridian on the neck, and binds at the mastoid process behind the ear. Another branch enters the ear from its posterior area. The straight portion emerges from the upper part of the ear, descends the face to bind on the mandible, and connects with the outer canthus. Another branch separates at the mandible, goes around the teeth and in front of the ear, links up with the outer canthus, and binds at the corner of the forehead.

The cutaneous regions

Point System 

There are 19 points on the Small Intestine Meridian, among which the points underlined are commonly used. The range of treatment of the small intestine points includes disorders of the head, neck, ears, eyes, and throat; febrile diseases, mental illnesses, and other disorders along the traveling course of the meridian. Examples are headache, neck pain, deafness, sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, pain on the back of the shoulder, etc.

SI 1 Shaoze （少泽）

Name: Lesser Marsh. It is a Jing-Well point where the Qi emerges like water gushing from a little spring.

Special Group: Jing-Well Point of the Small Intestine Meridian.

Location: On the ulnar side of the little finger, about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail bed .

Actions: Clears heat, benefits the throat, and promotes lactation.

Indications: Headache, blurred vision, sore throat, mastitis, insufficient lactation, unconsciousness, febrile diseases.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.1 cun or prick to induce bleeding.

SI 2 Qiangu （前谷）

Name: Front Valley. The distal part of the metacarpophalangeal joint was called the “front” in ancient times. “Valley” suggests the anatomical depression in which the point is located.

Special Group: Ying-Spring Point of the Small Intestine Meridian.

Location: When a loose fist is made, it is located on the ulnar edge of the hand, distal to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint, at the junction of light and dark skin.

Actions: Clears heat and relieves tendons.

Indications: Headache, eye pain, tinnitus, sore throat, dysuria, insufficient lactation, febrile diseases.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.

SI 3 Houxi （后溪）

Name: Back Stream. This point’s name is based on that of the previous point, SI 2 Qiangu; they are opposite in location to each other. “Stream” describes the flow of Qi through this Shu-Stream point.

Special Group: (1) Shu-Stream Point of the Small Intestine Meridian; (2) Confluent Point with the Du Meridian.

Location: When a loose fist is made, it is located on the ulnar edge of the palm, proximal to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint, at the junction of light and dark skin .

Actions: Dispels wind and heat, unblocks the Du Meridian, and consolidates the exterior.

Indications: Headache, stiffness and pain of the neck and nape, eye congestion, poor hearing, sore throat, backache, Dian Kuang or Manic–Depressive Syndrome (bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), epilepsy, malaria, spasmodic pain of the fingers, arm, and elbow.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun.

SI 4 Wangu  （腕骨）

Name: Wrist Bone. It is situated near the wrist bone.

Special Group: Yuan-Primary Point of the Small Intestine Meridian.

Location: Directly above SI 3 Houxi, on the ulnar side of the palm, in the depression between the base of the fifth metacarpal bone and the triquetral bone, at the junction of light and dark skin .

Actions: Clears damp-heat, dispels wind, and soothes the tendons.

Indications: Headache, stiffness and pain of the neck and nape, tinnitus, blurred vision, jaundice, febrile diseases, malaria, spasms of the finger, wrist pain.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.

SI 5 Yanggu （阳谷）

Name: Yang Valley. The point is on a Yang meridian and is also located on the dorsal part of the wrist (and therefore belongs to Yang). “Valley” suggests the anatomical depression in which it is situated.

Special Group: Jing-River Point of the Small Intestine Meridian (Fire).

Location: At the ulnar end of the transverse crease on the dorsal aspect of the wrist, in the depression distal to the styloid process.

Actions: Clears heat and frees the flow of Qi in the meridian.

Indications: Headache, dizziness, tinnitus, poor hearing, febrile diseases, Dian Kuang or Manic–Depressive Syndrome (bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), epilepsy, pain in the wrist.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.

SI 6 Yanglao  （养老）

Name: Nourishing the Aged. The point effectively treats some common disorders of the aged.

Special Group: Xi-Cleft Point of the Small Intestine Meridian.

Location: To locate the point, let the patient turn the palm to face the chest; look for the bony space on the radial side of the ulnar styloid process .

Actions: Unblocks the meridian, relieves pain, and brightens the eyes.

Indications: Poor vision; pain in the arm, elbow, shoulder, and back.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly or obliquely 0.3–0.5 cun.

ST 7 Zhizheng  （支正）

Name: Branch from the Main. The name suggests that the collateral branches out from the main meridian at this point.

Special Group: Luo-Connecting Point of the Small Intestine Meridian.

Location: Five cun above SI 5 Yanggu, on the line connecting SI 5 and SI 8 Xiaohai.

Actions: Dispels exterior heat, calms the spirit, and unblocks the meridians and collaterals.

Indications: Headache, dizziness, febrile diseases, Dian Kuang or Manic–Depressive Syndrome (bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), stiffness of the nape, pain in the elbow and arm.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly or obliquely 0.5–0.8 cun.

SI 8 Xiaohai  （小海）

Name: Small Sea. “Xiao” (“Small”) implies the Small Intestine Meridian and “Sea” describes the flow of Qi into this He-Sea point.

Special Group: He-Sea Point of the Small Intestine Meridian.

Location: When the elbow is flexed, this point is located in the depression between the olecranon of the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the humerus .

Actions: Dispels wind-heat and unblocks the meridian.

Indications: Headache, swelling of the cheek, pain in the nape and the lateral–posterior aspect of the shoulder, arm and elbow, and epilepsy.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.

SI 9 Jianzhen  （肩贞）

Name: Shoulder Integrity. It is one of the important points for shoulder disorders.

Special Group: None.

Location: When the arm is naturally adducted, the point is located 1 cun above the posterior end of the axillary fold .

Actions: Dispels wind, unblocks the meridian, and benefits the shoulder.

Indications: Pain in the shoulder and arm, Luo Li or scrofula, tinnitus.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1 cun.

SI 10 Naoshu （臑腧）

Name: Upper Arm Point. It is located on the upper end of the arm.

Special Group: Crossing Point with the Yang Wei and Yang Qiao Meridians.

Location: When the arm is naturally adducted, the point is located directly above ST 9 Jianzhen, in the depression below the scapular spine .

Actions: Dispels wind and unblocks the meridian.

Indications: Pain in the shoulder and arm, Luo Li or scrofula.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1 cun.

SI 11 Tianzong （天宗）

Name: Heaven’s Gathering. The scapula is on the upper body, which corresponds to “heaven,” and the point is located in its center, around which the Qi “gathers.”

Special Group: None.

Location: In the infrascapular fossa, in a tender depression a third of the distance between the midpoint of the inferior border of the scapular spine and the inferior angle of the scapula .

Actions: Expels wind and benefits the scapula.

Indications: Pain in the scapula, asthma, mastitis.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1 cun.

SI 12 Bingfeng  （秉风）

Name: Grasping Wind. The point effectively dispels wind from the local area.

Special Group: Crossing Point with the Large Intestine, San Jiao and Gall Bladder Meridians.

Location: Directly above ST 11 Tianzong, in the center of the suprascapular fossa .

Actions: Dispels wind and benefits the scapula.

Indications: Pain in the scapula, numbness and soreness of the upper limbs.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun.

SI 13 Quyuan （曲垣）

Name: Crooked Wall. The name describes the shape of the point’s location.

Special Group: None.

Location: On the medial end of the suprascapular fossa, approximately midway between SI 10 Naoshu and the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra .

Actions: Dispels wind and benefits the scapula.

Indications: Pain in the scapula.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun.

SI 14 Jianwaishu （肩外俞）

Name: Outer Shoulder Point. The name is compared to that of the following point, Middle Shoulder, because it is more to lateral.

Special Group: None.

Location: Three cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra or DU 13 Taodao.

Actions: Dispels wind and unblocks the meridian.

Indications: Pain of the shoulder and back, rigidity of the neck and nape.

Method: Puncture obliquely 0.3–0.5 cun.

SI 15 Jianzhongshu（肩中俞）

Name: Middle Shoulder Point. The name is compared to that of the previous point, Outer Shoulder, because it is located closer to the spine between the shoulders.

Special Group: None.

Location: Two cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra or DU 14 Dazhui.

Actions: Dispels wind, benefits the lungs, and unblocks the meridian.

Indications: Cough, asthma, pain in the shoulder and back, blurred vision.

Method: Puncture obliquely 0.3–0.5 cun.

SI 16 Tianchuang  （天窗）

Name: Heaven’s Window. The location of the point is higher (on the neck) and is thus named “Heaven”. “Window” implies the ears and throat, which the point benefits.

Special Group: None, but it is said to be one of the Heaven’s Window points.

Location: On the lateral side of the neck, 3.5 cun lateral to the laryngeal prominence or Adam’s apple (i.e. LI 18 Futu), on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle .

Actions: Dispels wind, benefits the ears and throat, and unblocks the meridian.

Indications: Tinnitus, poor hearing, sore throat, stiffness and pain of the neck and nape, sudden loss of voice.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.7 cun.

SI 17 Tianrong  （天容）

Name: Heaven’s Reception. Qi enters or is received by “Heaven” or the head from this point.

Special Group: None, but it is said to be one of the Heaven’s Window points.

Location: On the lateral side of the neck, posterior to the angle of the mandible, on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle .

Actions: Benefits the ears and throat.

Indications: Tinnitus, poor hearing, sore throat, pain and swelling of the neck and nape.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–0.8 cun.

SI 18 Quanliao  （颧髎）

Name: Cheek Bone-hole. It is located right below the cheekbone.

Special Group: Crossing Point with the Hand Shaoyang (San Jiao) Meridian.

Location: Directly below the outer canthus, in the depression on the lower border of the zygomatic bone .

Actions: Dispels wind and clears heat.

Indications: Deviation of the mouth and eye, twitching of the eyelids, toothache, swelling of the cheek.

Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun or obliquely 0.5–1 cun. Moxibustion is not advisable.

SI 19 Tinggong （听官）

Name: Hearing Palace. This is one of the key points for ear disorders.

Special Group: Crossing Point with the Hand Shaoyang (San Jiao) and Foot Shaoyang (Gall Bladder) Meridians.

Location: Anterior to the tragus, posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible, where there is a space when the mouth is open

Actions: Sharpens hearing and unblocks the meridian.

Indications: Tinnitus, poor hearing, pus discharge of the ear, toothache, Dian Kuang or Manic–Depressive Syndrome (bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), epilepsy.

Method: With the mouth opened, puncture perpendicularly or obliquely 0.5–1 cun.