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ACUPUNCTURE

Qing Ling: TCM Acupoint Guide

QINGLING
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
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Name

Qing Ling (Qingling)

Location

3 cun proximal to the medial end of the transverse cubital crease, on the line connecting HT-1 Jiquan and HT-3 Shaohai, in the groove medial to m. biceps brachii.

Needling

  • Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
  • Oblique distal or proximal insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun, avoiding the brachial artery.
  • Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
  • Moxibustion is applicable.

Actions

  • Activates the channel
  • Alleviates pain

Indications

  • Costalgia
  • Icteric sclera
  • Body tremors
  • Chest or epigastric pain
  • Intercostal neuralgia
  • Shoulder and arm stiffness
  • Jaundiced (yellow) eyes
  • Fever
  • Swelling, pain and redness of the shoulder
  • Scrofula
  • Mental abnormalities
  • Shoulder and arm pain
  • Pain in the cardiac and hypochondriac regions
  • Intercostal pain
  • Inability to raise the arm
  • Shoulder and arm inflammation or paralysis
  • Frontal and generalized headache
  • Pain of the axilla
  • Headache with cold shivering
  • Intense dislike of wearing clothes
  • Aversion to cold

Contraindications

Many early texts implied that needling this point was contraindicated and that only moxibustion should be used.

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Sources and further reading

We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.

  • Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
  • Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
  • Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
  • NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.

Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.

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