PATHWAY

The Small Intestine meridian originates at ulnar side of the tip of the small finger, at SI 1 (Shaoze). It
travels between the red and white skin to the wrist and goes around the styloid process of the ulna
at SI 6. The meridian continues along the forearm to the elbow, following the ulna to the medial
aspect of the elbow, passing between the olecranon of the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the
humerus at SI 8, before continuing up, on the posterior aspect of the upper arm to the posterior
aspect of the axillary crease at SI 9 and zig-zags along the scapula (up-down-up) to connect SI 10, 11,
12 and 13. It then goes to meet the Du 14 at C7 before going to the supraclavicular fossa at ST 12.

From the supraclavicular fossa, the meridian divides into 2 branches:

i) The internal branch runs down to connect with the HT before continuing down along the
oesophagus, through the diaphragm into the ST, then down into the SI (intersecting the
conception vessel at CV 17, 13 and 12). From here it goes down on the anterolateral aspect
of the leg to connect with ST 39 (Xiajuxu), which is the lower He-Sea point of the Small
Intestine meridian.

ii) The external/superficial branch travels up the neck and divides into 2 branches.
i) One branch runs up the corner of the jaw to the outer canthus of the eye before
finishing off in front of the ear, at SI 19 (Tinggong).
ii) The other branch connects to SI 18 (Quanliao), located below the zygomatic bone,
before internally connecting with BL 1 (Jingming) where the meridian terminates at
the inner canthus of the eye.
There are 19 points in total but only 11 points are most frequently used.

Starred: 6 points (most used) SI 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 18, 19

MEASUREMENTS:

SI 7 – first locate SI 8; it is in the groove between the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the
olecranon; the measurement between SI 8 and SI 5 is 12 cun; divide that into half to get 6 cun and
half again to get 3 cun and then divide the proximal half into thirds to find 5 cun from the wrist
crease

SI 1

 Location: ulnar side of the little finger, about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes

ACTIONS:

 Dispels pathogenic Heat, clears HT Fire

 Promotes lactation
 Revives consciousness
INDICATIONS:

 Tinnitus, cataracts, nebula, Headache, thirst, alternate chills and fever with sweating
congested and sore throat febrile diseases
 Mastitis, insufficient lactation, swollen breasts
 Loss of consciousness
SI 3

 Location: on the ulnar border of the hand, in the substantial depression proximal to the head
of the fifth metacarpal bone
This point is easier to locate when the hand is made into a loose fist
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Regulates the Du meridian

 Benefit joints and alleviate pain in the neck and back
 Activates the channel
 Dispels Wind and Heat
 Defends the body surface
 Calms the mind
INDICATIONS:

 Occipital or parietal headache, pain and rigidity of the head and neck, pain in the back
and low back
 Spasmodic pain of the fingers, elbow and arm
 Redness and congestion of the eyes, deafness, congested and sore throat, malaria
 Mental disorders
SI 4

 Location: between the base of the fifth metacarpophalangeal and triquetral bone
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Clears pathogenic Heat

 Removes stagnation of Damp-Heat
INDICATIONS:

 Rigidity and pain in the head and neck, tinnitus, nebula, jaundice, febrile disease,
malaria, tics, convulsions, spasm of fingers and pain in the wrist, diabetes, sore neck,
swollen mandible and cataracts
SI 5

 Location: at the ulnar end of the transverse crease on the dorsal aspect of the wrist, in the
depression between the head of the ulna and the triquetral
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Clears Heat and reduces swelling

 Calms the mind
INDICATIONS:

 Headache, toothache, blurred vision, congested eyes, tinnitus, deafness, febrile

diseases, swollen neck, scabies, haemorrhoids and pain of the wrist
 Yu syndrome, delirium, mania, fright, tongue stiffness, incoherent speech
SI 6

 Location: with palm of the hand placed on the chest, this point is located on the dorsal
aspect of the wrist, in a cleft level with and to the radial side of the high styloid process of
the ulna
Place the finger on the highest point of the head of the ulna, then turn the palm to face the
chest and the finger will fall into a cleft between the bones
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Free flow Qi and blood (removes obstructions in the channel)

 Benefits the joints, relaxes the tendons
 Clears Damp-Heat
 Brightens the eyes
INDICATIONS:

 Aching of the shoulder, back, elbow and arm, lower back pain
 Arthritis in the upper limbs
 Blurred, weak or impaired vision

SI 7

 Location: on a line connecting SI-5 and SI-8, 5 cun proximal to SI-5, in the groove between
the anterior border of the ulna and the muscle belly of flexor carpi ulnaris
This point should be located and needled with the patient lying on their back and with their
arm either in the supine position or resting on the chest
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Clears pathogenic heat and stimulates sweating

 Calms the mind
 Activate the meridian, frees obstruction and alleviates pain
INDICATIONS:

 Headache, blurred vision, vertigo, diabetes, excessive thirst, febrile disease; scabies
 Epilepsy, mania, amnesia, susceptibility to fear, Yu syndrome
 Rigidity of the neck, aching of the elbow and arm

SI 8

 Location: when the elbow is flexed, SI 8 is located in the depression between the olecranon
of the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the humerus
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Dispels Wind, Clears Heat in the Tai Yang meridians

 Calms the mind
INDICATIONS:

 Pain in the elbow and arm, carbuncles, headache, vertigo

 Epilepsy

SI 10

 Location: On the posterior aspect of the shoulder, in the depression inferior to the scapular
spine, directly superior to the posterior axillary crease when the arm hangs in the adducted
position
Slide a finger directly upwards from SI-9 until it falls into the depression just below the
scapular spine; 1 cun above the posterior end of the axillary fold when the arm is adducted
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
ACTIONS:

 Free flow of Qi and blood

 Relaxes tendons and muscles, benefits the shoulder
 Dissolves masses
 Removes stagnation
INDICATIONS:

 Pain in the shoulder and arm, and scrofula

SI 11

 Location: in the centre of the infrascapular fossa OR on the scapula, in a tender depression
one third of the distance from the midpoint of the inferior border of the scapular spine to
the inferior angle of the scapula.
In practice it may be difficult to palpate the inferior angle of the scapula. An alternative
method of location is to draw an equilateral triangle with Jiānzhēn SI-9 and Nāoshū SI-10,
after first ensuring that the patient's shoulder is relaxed
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: yes
 ACTIONS:

 Disperses Qi stagnation in the chest and hypochondrium

 Removes pathogens from Tai Yang meridian
 Benefit breast
INDICATIONS:

 Pain in the upper back and scapular region, asthmatic breathing, headache
 Mastitis, aids lactation

SI 18

 Location: on the face, directly below the outer canthus of the eye, in the depression on the
lower border of zygomatic bone
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: no
 ACTIONS:

 Disperses Wind and relieves pain and spasm

INDICATIONS:

 Deviation of the mouth and eye, tics and twitching of the eyelids, congested eyes,
toothache, flushing of the face and swelling of the cheek and lips

SI 19

 Location: with the mouth open, this point is located in the depression between the middle of
the tragus and the condyloid process of the mandible
In order to locate this point, ask the patient to open the mouth so that the condyloid process
of the mandible slides forwards to reveal the depression
 Needling method: perpendicular
 Moxa: no
 ACTIONS:

 Improves hearing and visual functions

 Free flow Qi and blood.
 Calm spirit
INDICATIONS:

 Relieves pain
 Tinnitus, deafness, obstructed sensation in the ears, serous otitis media, otorrhoea,
toothache
 Yu syndrome

Point Location Function Indication

ST 1 In the depression at the centre of the  Dispels pathogenic Heat, clears HT 
axilla, slightly anterior to the axillary artery Fire
 Promotes lactation
 Revives consciousness
 

ST 3 On the ulnar border of the hand, in the  Regulates the Du meridian 

substantial depression proximal to the  Benefit joints and alleviate pain
head of the fifth metacarpal bone in the neck and back
 Activates the channel 
 Dispels Wind and Heat
 Defends the body surface 
 Calms the mind



SI 4 between the base of the fifth  Clears Heat 
metacarpophalangeal and triquetral bone  Removes stagnation of Damp-
Heat

SI 5 At the ulnar end of the transverse crease  Clears Heat and reduces swelling 
on the dorsal aspect of the wrist, in the  Calms the mind
depression between the styloid process of
the ulna and the triquetral


SI 6 With palm of the hand placed on the chest,  Free flow Qi and blood (removes 
this point is located on the dorsal aspect of obstructions in the channel)
the wrist, in a cleft level with and to the  Benefits the joints, relaxes the 
radial side of the high styloid process of the tendons 
ulna  Clears Damp-Heat
 Brightens the eyes
SI 7 On a line connecting SI-5 and SI-8, 5 cun  Clears pathogenic heat and 
proximal to SI-5, in the groove between the stimulates sweating
anterior border of the ulna and the muscle  Calms the mind
belly of flexor carpi ulnaris  Activate the meridian, frees 
obstruction and alleviates pain


SI 8 When the elbow is flexed, SI 8 is located in  Dispels Wind, Clears Heat in the 
the depression between the olecranon of Tai Yang meridians
 Calms the mind
 the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the 
humerus
SI 10 On the posterior aspect of the shoulder, in  Free flow of Qi and blood 
the depression inferior to the scapular  Relaxes tendons and muscles,
spine, 1 cum directly superior to the benefits the shoulder
posterior axillary crease when the arm  Dissolves masses
hangs in the adducted position  Removes stagnation

SI 11 In the centre of the infrascapular fossa  Disperses Qi stagnation in the 

chest and hypochondrium
 Removes pathogens from Tai Yang 
meridian
 Benefit breast
SI 18 On the face, directly below the outer  Disperses Wind and relieves pain 
canthus of the eye, in the depression on and spasm
the lower border of zygomatic bone


SI 19 With the mouth open, this point is located  Improves hearing 
in the depression between the middle of  Free flow Qi and blood
the tragus and the condyloid process of the  Calm spirit
mandible

