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TB-3 Central Islet
中渚 〔中渚〕 zhōng zhǔ
Alternate names: 下都 xià dū, Lower Metropolis
Channel: TB, hand lesser yáng (shào yáng) triple burner channel
Modern location: An acupoint located on the dorsal aspect of the hand, between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, immediately proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints.
Classical location: In the depression behind the base joints of the little finger and the one next to it, one cùn from Humor Gate (TB-2). From
Local anatomy: The dorsal venous network of the hand and the 4th dorsal metacarpal artery. The dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve.
Action: Disperses wind-heat; clears the head and eyes; courses the channels and frees the network vessels.
Modern indications: Headache; red eyes; tinnitus; deafness; painful swollen throat; febrile disease; pain in the elbow and arm; inability to bend and stretch the fingers.
Classical indications: Absence of sweating in febrile disease; enduring malaria; pain in the spine.
Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.5 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 5‒10 min.
Point groups: Stream (shù) (wood) point.
Point name meaning:
This point is located between Humor Gate (
The name of this point may be further considered as a reminder of triple burner functions. The character 中 (zhōng, center, may be construed as a reference to source qì, which is sometimes called 中 and is moved by the triple burner, while 渚 (zhǔ), islet, calls to mind the triple burner’s governance of the waterways since an island can also dictate the flow of water.
This point is also the wood point of the triple burner channel. Wood can block/dam the flow of water, causing water to flow around it just as if it were a small island. See