Verscienta
SP3

Taibai

Star

太白 (Tàibái) — Supreme White

Spleen channel · point 3

Not yet clinically reviewed

Shu-Stream pointEarth pointYuan-Source pointEarth point of the Spleen channelHorary point

Traditionally used for

  • Digestion
  • Bowel health
  • Pain & joints
  • Energy & fatigue

Location

On the medial side of the foot, in the depression proximal and inferior to the first metatarsophalangeal joint, at the border between red and white flesh.

How to locate: Run a finger along the red-white skin border on the medial side of the foot from the toes toward the ankle; just past the prominent first metatarsophalangeal joint it drops into a clear depression where the head of the first metatarsal meets its shaft.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, front: SP3 · Foot
Fig. — SP3 · Foot After Albinus, 1747
Body map, front: SP3 · Foot

SP3 · Foot · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

Bones of the foot, dorsal — Gray's Anatomy plate
Bones of the foot, dorsal Gray's Anatomy, 1918
Bones of the foot, dorsal — Gray's Anatomy plate

Bones of the foot, dorsal · Gray's Anatomy, 1918

Needling

Cited needling

  1. Perpendicular insertion
    Depth 0.5–1 cun
    skindeeper

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)
  1. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 184 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.3–0.5 cun
Angle: Perpendicular

Functions

  • Tonifies the Spleen and resolves dampness and damp-heat
  • Harmonises the middle burner and regulates the intestines
  • Benefits the sinews and bones

Indications

Abdominal distension and painpoor appetite and indigestiondiarrhoea and constipationfatigue and heaviness of the limbsvomitingjoint pain

Balance Method partners

Under Dr. Tan's six systems, SP3 at the foot balances these channels at the regions its segment images.

Classical calendar method · 子午流注

When the tables open SP3

The hours Zi Wu Liu Zhu names this point at, by method. Times are the double-hour's start in UTC.

  • 己丑 01:00–03:00 Na Jia Fa, 乙-day sequence · Shu-Stream (俞)

    「己丑太白太衝穴」

    Next: Mon 19 Oct, 01:00

  • 癸酉 17:00–19:00 Na Jia Fa, 己-day sequence · Yuan-Source (原), returning to the source

    「癸酉太蹊太白原」

    Next: Thu 22 Oct, 17:00

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 →

Clinical Notes

The Yuan-Source of the Spleen and its principal distal tonification point for chronic Spleen qi deficiency.

Similar Points

Ranked by shared patterns and conditions

Zhongwan how are these connected? (Zhongwan) Zusanli how are these connected? (Zusanli) Pishu how are these connected? (Pishu) Sanjiaoshu how are these connected? (Sanjiaoshu) Yinlingquan how are these connected? (Yinlingquan) Qihai how are these connected? (Qihai)

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.)

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