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

Modern location: An acupoint located on the posterior aspect of the shoulder, in the center of the supraspinous fossa, straight above SI-11 (tiān zhōng).

Classical location: Outward from Celestial Bone-Hole (TB-15), on the shoulder behind the small protuberance of the shoulder blade [i.e., the coracoid process]. A hole appears when the arm is raised. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The suprascapular artery and vein. The lateral suprascapular nerve and accessory nerve; deeper, the suprascapular nerve.

Action: Frees the channels and quickens the network vessels.

Modern indications: Shoulder and scapula pain; pain and numbness in the upper limbs.

Classical indications: Shoulder pain that prevents the patient from raising the arm.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5‒0.7 cùn oblique or perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3‒5 cones; pole 5‒15 min.

Point groups: Intersection point (jiāo huì xué) of the small intestine, large intestine, hand lesser yáng (shào yáng) triple burner and foot lesser yáng gallbladder channels.

Point name meaning:

• 秉 bǐng: grasp, control
• 风 fēng: wind

A deep depression is found at this spot when the arm is raised. An invasion of external wind can get caught in this depression and cause shoulder disorders. The point catches or grasps the wind. SI-12 is treated to relieve this type of shoulder pain accompanied by inability to raise the arm. It can literally grasp the wind and relieve the pain. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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