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Channel: SI, hand greater yáng (tài yáng) small intestine channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the ulnar aspect of the hand, proximal to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone, at the border of the red and white flesh.

Classical location: On the outer side of the little finger, in the depression behind the base joint, located by making a fist. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The dorsal digital artery and vein, the dorsal venous network of the hand. The dorsal branch derived from the ulnar nerve.

Action: Clears the spirit-mind; dispels interior heat; frees the governing vessel; secures the exterior.

Modern indications: Headache; stiff nape; red eyes; deafness; febrile disease; mania and withdrawal; epilepsy; back pain; lumbar pain; malarial disease; hypertonicity of the elbow, arm, and fingers.

Classical indications: Eye screens; nosebleed; sniveling nose.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.7 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 1‒3 cones; pole 5‒15 min.

Needle sensation: Distension and numbness, sometimes spreading down the little finger.

Point groups: Stream (shù) (wood) point; confluence (bā mài jiāo huì) point of the governing vessel.

Point name meaning:

• 后 hòu: back, behind
• 溪 xī: ravine, creek

SI-3 is called Back Ravine in reference to its location in a narrow depression proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint. The character 溪 (xī) refers not only to the depression in which the point is located, but also to the quality of the qì at this point. SI-3 is the stream (shū) point of this channel, and the qì at stream (shū) points is said to flow rapidly like a stream flowing through a ravine. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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