Large Intestine Channel

1
SANJIAN L.I.-3
Third Space
Shu-Stream and Wood point of the Large
Intestine channel
LOCATION
On the radial side of the index finger, in the substantial
depression proximal to the head of the second metacarpal
bone.
LOCATION NOTE
This point is easier to locate when the hand is made into
a loose fist.
NEEDLING
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 2 cun, directed towards
Houxi SI-3. Note: needle with the hand in a loose fist
position, with the metacarpal bones lying in the same
plane. This is especially important when needling deeply
towards the opposite side of the hand.
ACTIONS
Expels wind and heat
Clears heat and benefits the throat and teeth
Dispels fullness and treats diarrhoea
INDICATIONS
Throat painful obstruction, obstruction of the throat,
toothache of the lower jaw, pain from decaying teeth,
tongue thrusting, acute eye pain, dry scorched lips and
mouth, nosebleed, rhinitis, tinnitus, chills and fever.
Cold or damp (dong) diarrhoea, borborygmus, som-
nolence, injury by cold with water binding the chest
and lateral costal region, fright, fullness of the chest,
malaria.
Acute stiff neck, redness and swelling of the dorsum
of the hand, difficulty in flexing and extending the
fingers.
COMMENTARY
In common with many of the distal points of the Large
Intestine channel, Sanjian L.I.-3 expels wind-heat and
yangming channel heat from the upper reaches of the
channel, being indicated for symptoms such as pain and
swelling of the throat, dry scorched lips and mouth, chills
and fever and nosebleed. As far as toothache and pain
from tooth decay is concerned, Zhu Dan-xi of the Jin-Yuan
dynasty recommended applying moxibustion to Sanjian
L.I.-3 for toothache of the lower jaw (and to Shousanli
L.I.-10 for toothache of the upper jaw
4
), whilst in modern
clinical practice, some Chinese practitioners favour Sanjian
L.I.-3 over Hegu L.I.-4 for the treatment of severe or
recalcitrant toothache.
It is a characteristic of the three yang channels of the
hand (Large and Small Intestines and Sanjiao) that rela-
tively few of their points are indicated for disorders of
their corresponding fu, for example points of the Small
Intestine channel are notable for the absence of indications
of intestinal disorders. By contrast, the lower he-sea points
which are ascribed to these three channels on the lower
limb (Shangjuxu ST-37 for the Large Intestine, Xiajuxu
ST-39 for the Small Intestine and Weiyang BL-39 for the
Sanjiao) are much used clinically for disorders of the fu. In
the case of the Large Intestine channel however, several
points including Sanjian L.I.-3 are classically indicated for
borborygmus and diarrhoea. Nevertheless, points of the
Large Intestine channel are little used for this purpose in
clinical practice, and they appear in relatively few classical
combinations for the treatment of intestinal disorders.
According to the Classic of Difficulties
5
the shu-stream
points are indicated for heaviness of the body and pain
of the joints. Sanjian L.I.-3 is an important local point for
treating disorders of the fingers (especially the index and
middle fingers) and dorsum of the hand. It is often com-
bined with Houxi SI-3 in the treatment of stiffness, swell-
ing and pain of the five fingers, and like Houxi SI-3, whose
location it mirrors, is also indicated (although less used
clinically) for acute stiff neck.
Sanjian L.I.-3
Erjian L.I.-2
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
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CONTENTS
Lung
L. Intestine
Stomach
Spleen
Heart
S. Intestine
Bladder
Kidney
Pericardium
Sanjiao
Gall Bladder
Liver
Conception
Governing
Extra Points
See Notes
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
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CONTENTS
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Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
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Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
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Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
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Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
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Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Large Intestine Channel 2
Finally, like Erjian L.I.-2, Sanjian L.I.-3 is indicated for
such symptoms as somnolence and fright.
COMBINATIONS
Pain from tooth decay: Sanjian L.I.-3, Daying ST-5
and Zhengying GB-17 (Preserving Life).
Erosion, heat and dryness of the mouth: Sanjian
L.I.-3, Laogong P-8, Shaoze SI-1 and Taichong LIV-3
(Thousand Ducat Formulas).
Obstruction of the throat: Sanjian L.I.-3 and Jianshi
P-5 (Great Compendium).
Somnolence: Sanjian L.I.-3 and Erjian L.I.-2 (Supple-
menting Life).
Somnolence with no desire to move the four limbs:
Sanjian L.I.-3, Sanyangluo SJ-8, Tianjing SJ-10,
Zuwuli LIV-10 and Lidui ST-45 (Thousand Ducat
Formulas).
Borborygmus and diarrhoea: Sanjian L.I.-3, Shenque
REN-8 and Shuifen REN-9 (Great Compendium).
Pain of the shoulder and back, wind-taxation
[chronic painful obstruction leading to exhaustion of
qi and blood]: Sanjian L.I.-3 and Shenshu BL-23 (Ode
of Xi-hong).
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Lung
L. Intestine
Stomach
Spleen
Heart
S. Intestine
Bladder
Kidney
Pericardium
Sanjiao
Gall Bladder
Liver
Conception
Governing
Extra Points
See Notes