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Small Intestine Channel — Teaching Deck (19 points)

S.I.-1

Shaoze "Lesser Marsh"
Small Intestine ChannelWell (Jing) PointMetal Point

Location

Location of S.I.-1 (Shaoze)

Actions

  • Expels Wind-Heat
  • Extinguishes Wind and promotes resuscitation
  • Removes obstructions from the channel
  • Clears Heat
  • Subdues rebellious Qi
  • Promotes lactation
Key point: An empirical point to promote lactation after childbirth in Excess-type inhibited lactation (e.g. from stagnant Liver-Qi) — alongside its more expected Well-point role in acute Wind-Heat and Wind-stroke resuscitation.

Indications

Exterior

Aversion to cold, fever, febrile disease.

Emergency

Loss of consciousness from Wind-stroke.

Musculoskeletal

Cold sensation below the heart, oppression and pain of the chest, pain in the ribs, stiff neck, pain in the back of the shoulder, arm and elbow.

Head

Headache, dizziness, red eyes, nosebleed, deafness, tinnitus, stiff tongue, thirst, mouth ulcers.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

  • Good for acute tonsillitis from exterior Wind-Heat.
  • Distal point for chronic stiff neck or acute torticollis.
Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

S.I.-2

Qiangu "Front Valley"
Small Intestine ChannelSpring (Ying) PointWater Point

Location

Location of S.I.-2 (Qiangu)

Actions

  • Expels Wind-Heat
  • Benefits the eyes, nose and ears
  • Removes obstructions from the channel
Key point: Clears Heat both interior (Small Intestine, acute febrile disease) and exterior (Wind-Heat affecting the neck and eyes) — and, via the Small Intestine-Bladder Greater Yang connection, can also clear Bladder-Heat (burning urination).

Indications

Exterior

Mumps, aversion to cold, fever, febrile disease, cough.

Head

Blurred vision, eye pain, red eyes, nasal congestion, nosebleed, tinnitus.

Musculoskeletal

Stiff neck and upper back, pain in the scapula, arm, wrist, little finger.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

    S.I.-3

    Houxi "Back Stream"
    Small Intestine ChannelStream (Shu) PointWood PointOpening Point — Governing Vessel (Du Mai)Tonification Point

    Location

    Location of S.I.-3 (Houxi)

    Actions

    • Regulates the Governing Vessel and extinguishes interior Wind
    • Expels exterior Wind
    • Benefits the sinews
    • Benefits the eyes, nose and ears
    Key point: The opening point of the Governing Vessel (Du Mai) — extinguishes interior Wind from that vessel (convulsions, tremors, epilepsy, stiff neck, giddiness, headache) and, paired with BL-62, becomes a powerful whole-spine treatment.

    Indications

    Neurological

    Epilepsy, headache, dizziness, vertigo.

    Musculoskeletal

    Stiff neck (occipital), occipital headache, difficulty turning the neck, pain in the upper back and shoulder, lower backache.

    Exterior

    Malaria, aversion to cold, fever, febrile disease.

    Head

    Deafness, tinnitus, blurred vision, redness and pain of the eyes, nosebleed.

    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

    • Paired with BL-62: activates the Du Mai for whole-spine/back pain, acute or chronic - but only for midline or bilateral back pain, not one-sided.
    • Gender-specific combinations: men use S.I.-3 + BL-62 alone; women add LU-7 + KI-6 to treat the Ren Mai simultaneously, with a specific needling order and laterality.
    • Combined with BL-62, also tonifies the Kidneys (the Du Mai emerges from the Kidneys) - more appropriate in men than women.
    • “Clears the Mind” - lifts depression and gives mental clarity and strength, paralleling its spine-strengthening physical action.
    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

    S.I.-4

    Wangu "Wrist Bone"
    Small Intestine ChannelSource (Yuan) Point

    Location

    Location of S.I.-4 (Wangu)

    Actions

    • Removes obstructions from the channel
    • Resolves Damp-Heat
    Key point: Despite being the Source point, S.I.-4 is used more for channel problems (wrist/elbow/neck Bi Syndrome) than for internal Small Intestine disorders — for those, ST-39, Ren-4 or BL-27 are preferred.

    Indications

    Musculoskeletal

    Contraction of fingers, wrist pain, contraction of arm and elbow, stiff neck, shoulder pain, headache, pain in the lateral ribs.

    Other

    Jaundice, febrile disease.

    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

    • Empirical use for hypochondrial pain, cholecystitis and jaundice from Damp-Heat obstructing the Gall Bladder.
    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

    S.I.-5

    Yanggu "Yang Valley"
    Small Intestine ChannelRiver (Jing-River) PointFire Point

    Location

    Location of S.I.-5 (Yanggu)

    Actions

    • Clears Heat
    • Calms the Mind
    • Benefits the ears and eyes
    Key point: The author's personal favourite for its mental effect — “clears the Mind” to help a person distinguish the right choice among several options, especially at difficult decision points in life.

    Indications

    Mental

    Manic behaviour.

    Head

    Tinnitus, deafness, blurred vision, redness, swelling and pain of the eyes.

    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

    • Also helps eliminate Dampness from swollen, hot knees.
    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

    S.I.-6

    Yanglao "Nourishing the Elderly"
    Small Intestine ChannelAccumulation (Xi) Point

    Location

    Location of S.I.-6 (Yanglao)

    Actions

    • Brightens the eyes
    • Benefits the sinews
    • Removes obstructions from the channel
    Key point: An Xi point mainly for acute channel problems (stiff neck/shoulder sinew tightness); its effect on the feet comes via the Small Intestine-Bladder Greater Yang relationship.

    Indications

    Eyes

    Blurred vision, eye pain.

    Musculoskeletal

    Severe shoulder or upper arm pain, redness and swelling of the elbow, contracture of sinews, Bi Syndrome of the feet.

    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

    • Also brightens eyesight, but only in patterns related to the Heart or Small Intestine specifically.
    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

    S.I.-7

    Zhizheng "Branch to Heart Channel"
    Small Intestine ChannelConnecting (Luo) Point

    Location

    Location of S.I.-7 (Zhizheng)

    Actions

    • Expels Wind-Heat
    • Subdues rebellious Qi
    • Removes obstructions from the channel
    • Calms the Mind
    Key point: Via its Luo connection to the Heart (the “Monarch” organ — “Zheng” means “chief” or “ruler”), calms severe anxiety and mental restlessness; also especially good for elbow channel problems.

    Indications

    Exterior

    Aversion to cold, fever, febrile disease, fever with neck pain.

    Head

    Headache, dizziness, blurred vision.

    Musculoskeletal

    Stiff neck, contracture of the elbow, pain in the fingers.

    Mental

    Manic depression, fright, sadness, anxiety, mental restlessness.

    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

    • Combined with L.I.-6 to resolve thyroid Phlegm swellings.
    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

    S.I.-8

    Xiaohai "Small Intestine Sea"
    Small Intestine ChannelSea (He) PointEarth PointDrainage Point

    Location

    Location of S.I.-8 (Xiaohai)

    Actions

    • Resolves Damp-Heat
    • Removes obstructions from the channel
    Key point: Like all Sea points of the arm Yang channels, resolves Damp-Heat — effective for acute neck-gland swelling and parotitis (mumps), plus elbow and neck Bi Syndrome.

    Indications

    Head / Neck

    Swelling and pain of the neck, swelling of cheek and gums, yellow eyes.

    Musculoskeletal

    Pain in the neck, scapula, shoulder, upper arm and elbow.

    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

      Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

      S.I.-9

      Jianzhen "Upright Shoulder"
      Small Intestine ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

      Location

      Location of S.I.-9 (Jianzhen)

      Actions

      • Removes obstructions from the channel
      Key point: A secondary but important local shoulder point — always checked for tenderness when selecting local points for shoulder Bi Syndrome.

      Indications

      Musculoskeletal

      Pain in the shoulder and upper arm, inability to raise the arm, pain in the scapula, Wind Bi Syndrome.

      Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

        Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

        S.I.-10

        Naoshu "Humerus Transporting Point"
        Small Intestine ChannelMeeting Point (Small Intestine • Bladder)Point of the Yang Stepping Vessel (Yang Qiao Mai)Point of the Yang Linking Vessel (Yang Wei Mai)

        Location

        Location of S.I.-10 (Naoshu)

        Actions

        • Removes obstructions from the channel
        Key point: Sitting on both the Yang Stepping and Yang Linking Vessels gives it a special ability to restore shoulder joint mobility specifically — the point of choice when a frozen shoulder's range of motion is limited.

        Indications

        Musculoskeletal

        Pain of the shoulder and scapula, pain in the arm, inability to raise the shoulder.

        Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

          Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

          S.I.-11

          Tianzong "Heavenly Attribution"
          Small Intestine ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

          Location

          Location of S.I.-11 (Tianzong)

          Actions

          • Removes obstructions from the channel
          • Opens the chest
          • Benefits the breast
          Key point: The most useful of the scapular shoulder points (nearly always tender in shoulder Bi Syndrome) — and uniquely also affects the front of the torso (chest/rib fullness) and the breast (pain, swelling, lumps, lactation).

          Indications

          Musculoskeletal

          Pain in the shoulder, scapula and elbow.

          Chest

          Feeling of fullness of the chest and lateral ribs.

          Breast

          Swelling and pain of the breast, breast abscess, insufficient lactation.

          Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

          • Needle with reducing method followed by moxa on the needle, with the patient seated.
          Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

          S.I.-12

          Bingfeng "Watching Wind"
          Small Intestine ChannelMeeting Point (Small Intestine • Gall Bladder • Triple Burner • Large Intestine)

          Location

          Location of S.I.-12 (Bingfeng)

          Actions

          • Removes obstructions from the channel
          Key point: Another important shoulder point to check for tenderness — a broad meeting point of four channels.

          Indications

          Musculoskeletal

          Pain of the shoulder and scapula, inability to raise the arm, stiff neck, inability to turn the head, pain in the arm.

          Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

            Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

            S.I.-13

            Quyuan "Bent Wall"
            Small Intestine ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

            Location

            Location of S.I.-13 (Quyuan)

            Actions

            • Expels Wind
            • Removes obstructions from the channel
            Key point: Distinguished from the other scapular shoulder points by its general Wind-expelling action for joint Bi Syndrome anywhere in the body, not just the shoulder.

            Indications

            Musculoskeletal

            Bi Syndrome, pain of the shoulder and scapula, inability to raise the arm.

            Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

            • The author's clinical note: S.I.-9, S.I.-10, S.I.-11, S.I.-12 and S.I.-13 together are the key point set for frozen shoulder, typically combined with L.I.-15 and/or T.B.-14 (which cover the acromioclavicular joint, complementing these points which cover the scapulohumeral joint).
            Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

            S.I.-14

            Jianwaishu "Transporting Point of the Outside of the Shoulder"
            Small Intestine ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

            Location

            Location of S.I.-14 (Jianwaishu)

            Actions

            • Expels Wind
            • Removes obstructions from the channel
            Key point: Another shoulder-tenderness point, also useful for generalized Wind Bi Syndrome.

            Indications

            Musculoskeletal

            Wind Bi Syndrome, pain of the shoulder and scapula, pain in the arm and elbow, stiff neck.

            Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

              Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

              S.I.-15

              Jianzhongshu "Transporting Point of the Centre of the Shoulder"
              Small Intestine ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

              Location

              Location of S.I.-15 (Jianzhongshu)

              Actions

              • Promotes the descending of Lung-Qi
              • Removes obstructions from the channel
              Key point: Similar shoulder indications to S.I.-14 but a less important local point (less often tender), with the added, somewhat unusual action of promoting the descending of Lung-Qi.

              Indications

              Respiratory

              Cough, coughing of blood.

              Musculoskeletal

              Pain in the shoulder and scapula.

              Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

                Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

                S.I.-16

                Tianchuang "Heavenly Window"
                Small Intestine ChannelWindow of Heaven Point

                Location

                Location of S.I.-16 (Tianchuang)

                Actions

                • Subdues rebellious Qi
                • Extinguishes internal Wind
                • Calms the Mind
                • Benefits the ears
                Key point: A Window of Heaven point that, combined with its nature as a Small Intestine point (whose physical role is separating clear from turbid fluids), gives it a psychic parallel — helping a confused, indecisive, depressed person discriminate the right path forward, an even stronger version of S.I.-5's similar effect.

                Indications

                Face / Head

                Feeling of heat in the face, cheek pain, loss of voice from Wind-stroke, clenched teeth, headache.

                Mental

                Manic behaviour, manic depression, “talking with ghosts”.

                Ear

                Deafness, tinnitus, ear pain.

                Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

                  Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

                  S.I.-17

                  Tianrong "Heavenly Appearance"
                  Small Intestine ChannelWindow of Heaven Point

                  Location

                  Location of S.I.-17 (Tianrong)

                  Actions

                  • Subdues rebellious Qi
                  • Resolves Dampness
                  • Expels Toxic Heat
                  • Benefits the ears
                  Key point: Resolves Dampness and Toxic Heat — the point of choice for swollen cervical glands or goitre (Dampness) and mumps or tonsillitis (Toxic Heat).

                  Indications

                  Respiratory

                  Breathlessness, wheezing, cough, vomiting.

                  Neck

                  Goitre, scrofula of the neck, swelling and pain of the neck, mumps, tonsillitis.

                  Ear

                  Tinnitus, deafness.

                  Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

                    Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

                    S.I.-18

                    Quanliao "Zygoma Crevice"
                    Small Intestine ChannelMeeting Point (Small Intestine • Triple Burner)Meeting Point of the 3 Leg Yang Muscle Channels

                    Location

                    Location of S.I.-18 (Quanliao)

                    Actions

                    • Expels Wind
                    • Clears Heat and resolves swelling
                    Key point: An important local point for facial paralysis, tic, and trigeminal neuralgia — any manifestation of Wind in the face.

                    Indications

                    Facial

                    Deviation of eye and mouth, twitching of eyelids, facial pain, swelling of cheek, abscess of lip, red face.

                    Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

                      Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck

                      S.I.-19

                      Tinggong "Listening Palace"
                      Small Intestine ChannelMeeting Point (Small Intestine • Gall Bladder • Triple Burner)

                      Location

                      Location of S.I.-19 (Tinggong)

                      Actions

                      • Benefits the ears
                      Key point: The primary local point for tinnitus and deafness, especially Deficiency-type presentations associated with Lung and Heart-Qi deficiency.

                      Indications

                      Ear

                      Tinnitus, deafness, ear discharge, ear pain, itching inside the ears.

                      Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

                      • Frequently combined with T.B.-17 Yifeng for ear problems.
                      Small Intestine Channel — Study Deck