Atlas of Acupuncture

4.10 The Triple Burner Channel System – Hand shaoyang(shou shao yang jing luo)

Location

On the dorsum of the hand, in a depression between the 4th and

5th metacarpal bones, proximal to the metacarpophalangeal

joints. T.B.-3is located at the junction between the heads and

shafts of the two metacarpal bones.

How to find

The hand should be relaxed or a loose fist should be made. Pal-

pate from the metacarpophalangeal joints along the groove

between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones towards proximal.

T.B.-3is located at the widest/deepest point of the groove,

slightly distal to the carpometacarpal joints.

Located in comparable positions are ➞Ex-UE-8(wailaogong:

between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones), ➞S.I.-3(on the

ulnar aspect of the 5th metacarpal bone) and ➞L.I.-3(on the

radial aspect of the 2nd metacarpal bone).

Needling

0.5–1 cun vertically or obliquely in a proximal direction.

Actions/Indications

● Benefits the ears, clears Heat (and drains Fire), clears the

head and the eyes

● Opens the channel and luo-connecting vessels, alleviates pain

Special features

Shu-stream point, Wood point, tonification point. One of the

most important distal points for any disorder of the ears.

Central Islet ZHONGZHU T.B.-3

T.B.-3

4th metacarpal

5th metacarpal

Ex-UE-8

Most distal

S.I.-3 transverse crease

S.I.-2

Junction

L.I.-3

Proximal

phalanx II

2nd metacarpal

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