ACUPUNCTURE
Yang Chi: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Yang Chi (Yangchi)
Location
On the transverse crease of the dorsum of the wrist, in the depression lateral to the tendon of the extensor digitorum communis.
Needling
- Transverse insertion, needle pointed across the wrist, 0.5 to 1 cun, for diseases of the wrist. Sensation: distention and soreness possibly throughout the wrist.
- Transverse insertion towards the radial side of the wrist beneath the tendons, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Straight insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness, sometimes extending to the middle finger.
- Slightly oblique proximal insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Yuan-source point
Actions
- Relaxes the sinews
- Alleviates pain
- Removes obstructions from the channel
- Clears Heat
- Regulates the Stomach
- Promotes transformation of fluids
- Benefits Yuan qi
- Tonifies the Chong and Ren channels
Indications
- Pain in the arm, shoulder and wrist
- Pain in the shoulder and back
- Malaria
- Deafness
- Thirst
- Bi syndrome of the arm and shoulder
- Occipital headaches due to Wind-Cold
- Irregular menstruation
- Painful menstruation
- Amenorrhea
- Swelling and pain of the neck
- Redness and swelling of the wrist
- Wasting and thirsting disorder
- Diabetes
- Inability to grasp
- Inability to raise the arm
- Shivering
- Nervousness
- Difficulty moving the wrist
- Arthritis of the wrist joint
- Contusion or sprain of the wrist or hand
- The more one drinks, the thirstier one gets
- Nervous spasms and paralysis of the forearm muscles
- Tonsillitis
- Common cold
- Fatigue
- Tidal fevers
- Throat Bi
- Dry mouth
- Chest discomfort
- Eye redness and swelling
- Pain and diseases of the soft tissues of the wrist
- Pain and weakness of the wrist
- Febrile diseases without sweat
- Dry mouth with agitation and oppression
- Heart pain with fullness of the chest
- General lack of stability
- Facial spasms
- Alternating fever and chills
- Dull pain in the wrist
- Rheumatic pain of the wrist
- Fracture or dislocation of the wrist
- Yin or Yang malaria
- Retroversion of the uterus
- Displacement of the uterus
- Degenerative diseases
- Cold fingers
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| ST-42 Chongyang | Regulates and tonifies the Stomach |
| UB-64 Jinggu | Dampness accumulating in the Lower Jiao |
| PC-7 Daling, M-UE-50 Shangbaxie, M-UE-9 Sifeng | Arthritis of the wrist, fingers and bones of the hand |
| UB-12 Fengmen, UB-10 Tianzhu, DU-14 Dazhui | Hot or cold headache without sweating |
| LI-11 Quchi, LU-5 Chize, LI-4 Hegu, SJ-3 Zhongzhu | Contraction of the arm with tightness of the sinews of both hands resulting in the inability to open the hands |
Contraindications
Some sources say that this point is forbidden to needle during the third month of pregnancy.
Notes
An important point to strengthen Yuan, Original, qi. It has a special effect on rheumatism of the wrist, and is effective in regulating the Chong and REN channels in the treatment of menstrual disorders. In clinical practice it is principally used to treat local disorders of the wrist joint. Known in some circles as the return to calm point, this point deals with the first ripples of distress or strain. It can be needled through to PC-7 Daling.
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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