Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

In the depression radial and proximal to the styloid process of

the ulna, which forms when the hand is turned from a pronated

to a supinated position.

How to find

This point is best located with the elbow slightly flexed. Place

the palpating finger on the distal portion of the styloid process of

the ulna (➞3.3.3). When turning the hand from a pronated to a

supinated position (mnemonic: cut bread and eat soup), the pal-

pating finger will glide into a bony cleft at the proximal aspect of

the styloid process (the tendon of the extensor carpi ulnari mus-

cle runs along this groove). This cleft also becomes palpable

when the patient rests the hand on the chest (half-supinated pos-

ition). Locate S.I.-6in this bony groove.

Needling

0.3–0.8 cun vertically or slightly obliquely in a proximal direction

towards ➞P-6or along the tendon towards the elbow joint.

Actions/Indications

● Opens the channel, alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder and

arm, alleviates acute conditions

● Benefits the eyes

Special features

Xi-cleft point. Important distal point for pain and limited range of

motion of the occiput and shoulder (for example, acute torticol-

lis) and the lumbar region (for example, acute sciatica). For acute

and painful impairment of motion, use strong reducing needling

technique while the patient gently moves the affected region.

S.I.-6 Support the Aged YANGLAO

S.I.-6 Styloidprocess

of the ulna

Half-

supi

nation

Pronation

(initial position)

S.I.-6

Half-

supination

Palpating finger

slides into the cleft

of the tendon

Initial position:

pronation

Proximal part of the styloid

process of the ulna

Ch04.6-F10028.qxd 2/22/08 9:47 PM Page 228