Ba Xie: TCM Acupoint Guide

Name

Ba Xie (Baxie)

Location

On the dorsum of the hand, at the junction of the red and white skin of the hand webs, eight in all. With the hands in a clenched fist, the points can be found between the heads of each of the metacarpal bones, four on each hand.

Needling

• With the hand making a fist, so as to stretch the skin tight between the knuckles, straight insertion along the metacarpal bone up to 1 cun, causing local distention and soreness, and possibly a numb, electric sensation extending toward the fingertips.
• Perpendicular insertion along the line between the shafts of the metacarpal bones, 0.5 to 1 cun.
• Puncture obliquely, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, or prick to cause bleeding.
• Moxibustion is applicable.

Actions

• Relaxes the sinews
• Expels wind-damp
• Invigorates the blood
• Clears heat
• Dissipates swelling

Indications

• Bi syndrome of the hands and fingers
• Chronic atrophy (wei) syndrome of the hands
• Numbness, stiffness, redness, swelling, spasm and pain of the fingers and hand
• Pain and swelling of the throat
• Redness and swelling of the eyes
• Febrile disease
• Spasm and contracture of the fingers
• Upper extremity gangrene
• Diseases of the finger joints
• Numbness of the fingers
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Toothache
• Sore throat
• Snake bite
• Excessive heat
• Arthritis of the fingers
• Eye pain

Notes

These points are frequently used for bi syndrome of the hands and fingers. This point may be bled to treat malaria.