三間 (Sānjiān) — Third Space
Large Intestine channel · point 3
Traditionally used for
- Eye health
- Nose & throat
- Teeth & mouth
- Digestion
Location
On the dorsum of the hand, in the depression radial and proximal to the second metacarpophalangeal joint.
How to locate: With the hand relaxed, slide along the radial side of the second metacarpal toward the knuckle until you feel the angle where the shaft meets the head. The point is in the depression there, just proximal to the joint and slightly toward the palm.
Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.
3D view
3D view not available for this point: its position can't be carried onto the 3D model reliably (it failed a placement check). The 2D maps above show it.
Needling
Cited needling
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Perpendicular insertion — directed towards Houxi SI3Depth 0.5–2 cunskindeeper
Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.
Sources (1)
- Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 102 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Expels wind and clears heat
- Benefits the throat and teeth
- Regulates the intestines
- Relieves pain of the fingers, hand and face
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, LI3 at the hand balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
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1. Same Chinese nameStomach channelFoot · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Head & face, Crown & occiput, Ear · Image, head at the hand/footSolve for the Stomach channel →
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2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Liver channelFoot · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Head & face, Crown & occiput, Ear · Image, head at the hand/footSolve for the Liver channel →
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3. Interior–exterior pairLung channelHand · Same segment, opposite sideHead & face, Crown & occiput, Ear · Image, head at the hand/footSolve for the Lung channel →
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4. Chinese clock oppositeKidney channelFoot · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Head & face, Crown & occiput, Ear · Image, head at the hand/footSolve for the Kidney channel →
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5. Chinese clock neighbourStomach channelFoot · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Head & face, Crown & occiput, Ear · Image, head at the hand/footSolve for the Stomach channel →
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6. Same channelLarge Intestine channelHand · Same segment, opposite sideHead & face, Crown & occiput, Ear · Image, head at the hand/footSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
Classical calendar method · 子午流注
When the tables open LI3
The hours Zi Wu Liu Zhu names this point at, by method. Times are the double-hour's start in UTC.
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庚子 23:00–01:00 Na Jia Fa, 丙-day sequence · Shu-Stream (俞)
「庚子時在三間俞」
Next: Mon 19 Oct, 23:00
A classical reference, not a recommendation: the tables say when the method opens this point, not that it is the point to needle. Open points by the hour →
Sources
- World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
- Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on LI3 Sanjian.
No notes yet.