ACUPUNCTURE
Si Bai: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Si Bai (Sibai)
Location
With the eyes looking directly forward, 1 cun directly below the pupil, in the depression at the infraorbital foramen. Note: the infraorbital foramen can be felt by palpating downward from the edge of the orbital bone, about 0.3 cun below the edge.
Needling
- Oblique insertion supero-laterally along the infraorbital foramen, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Caution: deep insertion along the foramen may injure the eyeball. When needling upward, care must be taken to avoid puncturing the eyeball.
- For trigeminal neuralgia, the needle may be inserted from below in a lateral, upward direction, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, entering the infraorbital foramen. Sensation: possibly a numb, electric sensation extending to the upper lip.
- Straight insertion, 0.3 to 0.8 cun, or transverse insertion, 0.8 to 1 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
- Transverse insertion to join with other points such as SI-18 Quanliao or LI-20 Yingxiang.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.2 to 0.3 cun. Caution: it is not advisable to puncture too deeply.
Command Functions
- Point of the Yang Qiao channel
Actions
- Eliminates Wind
- Clears Heat
- Benefits the eyes
- Clears vision
- Spreads Liver qi
- Benefits the Gall Bladder
Indications
- Redness and pain of the eyes
- Superficial visual obstruction
- Dimness of vision
- Visual dizziness
- Itching eyes
- Excessive lachrymation
- Deviation of the mouth and eyes
- Twitching of the eyeballs
- Headache
- All eye problems
- Hyperthyroidism with protruding eyes
- Color blindness
- Conjunctivitis
- Facial pain
- Round worms in the bile duct
- Facial paralysis
- Facial spasms
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Keratitis
- Myopia
- Sinusitis
- Allergic facial swelling
- Dizziness
- Intestinal parasites
- Rhinitis
- Sinus headache
- Twitching of the eyelids
- Gall Bladder stones
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| UB-1 Jingming, LI-4 Hegu | Superficial visual obstruction |
| KI-1 Yongquan, UB-11 Dazhu | Headache, visual dizziness |
| M-LE-23 Dannangxue, ST-25 Tianshu, REN-4 Guanyuan | Round worms in the bile duct |
| ST-4 Dicang, GB-20 Fengchi, LI-4 Hegu | Facial paralysis |
Contraindications
According to several classical texts, moxibustion is contraindicated on this point; some sources say to use it with caution. Lifting and thrusting manipulation is contraindicated due to the risk of damaging the infraorbital nerve which emerges from the foramen.
Notes
A good substitute for ST-1 Chengqi.
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.
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