支溝 (Zhīgōu) — Branch Ditch
Triple Energiser channel · point 6
Traditionally used for
- Ears & hearing
- Digestion
- Bowel health
- Menstrual & women's health
- Pain & joints
Location
On the dorsal aspect of the forearm, 3 cun proximal to the wrist crease, between the radius and the ulna.
Focks' Atlas of Acupuncture places it in a depression on the radial side of the extensor digitorum muscle, close to the border of the radius, rather than midway between the two bones.
How to locate: With the forearm pronated, measure 3 cun above the dorsal wrist crease (1 cun above TE5); the point is in the depression midway between the radius and the ulna, level with TE7 and opposite PC5.
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
Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:
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Slightly oblique insertion — towards the ulnar sideDepth 0.5–1.5 cunskindeeper
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Oblique insertion — proximal or distal, towards the elbow or wrist respectivelyDepth 0.5–1.5 cunskindeeper
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Through-needling — to Jianshi PC5
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. 398 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Regulates qi in the Triple Energiser and moves the bowels
- Clears heat from the three burners
- Benefits the lateral costal region and relieves hypochondriac pain
- Benefits the voice and the ears
- Activates the channel
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, TE6 at the forearm balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
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1. Same Chinese nameGallbladder channelLower leg, Calf · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Thigh · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Gallbladder channel →
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2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Kidney channelLower leg, Calf · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Thigh · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Kidney channel →
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3. Interior–exterior pairPericardium channelForearm · Same segment, opposite sideChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Pericardium channel →
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4. Chinese clock oppositeSpleen channelLower leg, Calf · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Thigh · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Spleen channel →
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5. Chinese clock neighbourGallbladder channelLower leg, Calf · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Thigh · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Gallbladder channel →
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6. Same channelTriple Energiser channelForearm · Same segment, opposite sideChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Triple Energiser channel →
Classical calendar method · 子午流注
When the tables open TE6
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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戊辰 07:00–09:00 Na Jia Fa, 戊-day sequence · Na (納) point
「戊辰氣納三焦脈，經穴支溝刺必痊」
Next: Thu 22 Oct, 07:00
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
Similar Points
Ranked by shared patterns and conditions
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
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