Wai Guan: TCM Acupoint Guide

Name

Wai Guan (Waiguan)

Location

2 cun proximal to the transverse crease of the dorsal surface of the wrist, between the ulna and the radius, on the line connecting SJ-4 Yangchi and the tip of the olecranon, on the radial side of the extensor digitorum communis tendons, close to the border of the radius.

Needling

• Straight insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun, or joined through the arm to PC-6 Neiguan. Sensation: local distention and soreness, sometimes extending to the fingertips.
• Slanted insertion with the needle pointed up the arm 1.5 to 2 cun, for diseases of the trunk. Sensation: distention and soreness extending up the arm.
• Puncture perpendicularly 0.5 to 1 cun.
• Moxibustion is applicable.
• Slightly oblique insertion towards the ulnar side, or oblique proximal or distal towards the elbow or the wrist respectively, 0.5 to 1.5 cun.
• Joined by through-needling to PC-6 Neiguan.
• Caution: moving the patient’s hand or arm after insertion can result in a bent needle.

Command Functions

• Connecting point
• Master point of the Yangwei channel
• Coupled point of the Dai channel

Actions

• Expels Wind
• Releases the Exterior
• Clears Heat
• Facilitates circulation of Qi
• Removes obstruction from the channel
• Benefits the head and ears
• Subdues Liver Yang
• Opens the Yang Wei channel
• Activates the channel
• Alleviates pain
• Invigorates the Luo Mai
• Relaxes the tendons

Indications

• Deafness
• Headaches
• Violent fear
• Fingers painful and unable to grasp objects
• Pain in the chest and ribs
• Ulcers
• Hypotension
• Hypertension
• Warming up
• Hand tremors
• Swollen throat
• Constipation
• Wind predominant Bi
• Trigeminal neuralgia due to Wind-Heat
• Upper body atrophy syndrome
• Infantile paralysis
• Convulsions
• Alternating fever and chills
• Unilateral or occipital headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hypochondriac pain
• Shoulder pain and stiffness
• Severe abdominal pain with cramps
• Urinary incontinence
• Impaired hearing
• Ear pain
• Redness, pain and swelling of the root of the ear
• Redness, pain and swelling of the eyes
• Cold and pain of the eyes
• Superficial visual obstruction
• Lachrymation on exposure to Wind
• Cold lachrymation
• Abdominal pain
• Oppression and tightness of the chest
• Pain of the lateral costal region
• Hematemesis
• Knotting of Heat in the five Zang and six Fu
• Swelling and redness of the arm
• Coldness, numbness and pain of the hands and feet
• Pain of the hundred joints
• Writer's cramp
• Influenza
• Difficulty closing the hand
• Pain in the fingers
• Cramp in the elbow
• Difficulty bending the arm
• Common cold
• High fever
• Pneumonia
• Parotitis (mumps)
• Tinnitus
• Migraine headache
• Enuresis
• Stiff neck
• Hemiplegia
• Pain in the joints of the upper limb
• Paralysis
• Numbness, contracture or pain of the forearm, wrist or fingers
• Hand tremors
• Pain in the cheek
• Motor impairment of the elbow and arm
• Ear infection due to Wind-Heat
• Injury by Cold
• Sweating with Heat on the Exterior
• Thunder head Wind
• Kidney Deficiency headache
• Pain of the vertex
• Frontal headache
• Pain of the nape
• Dizziness
• Phlegm-Inversion dizziness
• Wind dizziness
• Swelling of the cheek
• Stiffness of the tongue with difficulty speaking
• Toothache
• Ulceration of the mouth
• Cracked lips
• Epistaxis
• Scrofula (adenitis)
• Flaccidity of the elbow
• Soreness and heaviness of the elbow and wrist
• Redness, swelling and pain of the ankle
• Pain of the toes
• Finger neuralgia or sprains
• Forearm neuralgia
• Leukoma
• Cataract
• Placenta does not descend

Combinations

Notes

This is the most important distal point of the San Jiao channel. This point controls a tremendous lack of warmth, both physical and emotional warmth. This is a key point for shoulder problems. This is a major point to release Wind-Heat and must nearly always be used when there are symptoms of fever, sore throat, slight sweating, aversion to Cold and a Superficial and rapid pulse. This is a main point to regulate the Shao Yang. This is a general point for Wind predominant Bi.