San Jiao
SJ3
中渚 · Zhongzhu
Middle Islet
Back-of-hand hollow for the ear and the side of the head.
Shu-stream · Wood point of San Jiao
System
- Channel
- San Jiao (SJ)
- Element
- Fire
- Yin or yang
- yang
- Organ system
- San Jiao
- Region
- Hand
- Limb rule
- Hand Shaoyang
Where it is
On the back of the hand, in the hollow just behind the knuckles, between the ring and little fingers.
Nearby: Metacarpal bones. The hollow is small. Don’t wedge the nail between bones.
Traditionally said to
Shu-stream and wood point of San Jiao. A common point in teaching for ear symptoms, temporal headache, and finger stiffness.
What people look up
Acupressure
Thumb in the hollow, 30–60 seconds, toward the wrist rather than prying the bones apart.
When not to press: Stop if pain shoots into the fingers.
About 30–90 seconds is the usual window, unless the step above is shorter. Stop if pain, dizziness, or anything unusual shows up.
Licensed practice only
Needle depth, angle, electroacupuncture
Textbook language for students. Not instructions. A cun is a body-inch on that person, not a ruler inch. Do not needle yourself.
Depth
Common textbook range: about 0.3–0.5 cun perpendicular.
Angle
Perpendicular, in the hollow.
Electroacupuncture
Introductory charts rarely assign a standard electroacupuncture setting here. Clinics that use current choose frequency and intensity for that person. No milliamp figure is given, because copying one would be misleading.
Nearby on this channel
Outer Pass
Outer forearm point opposite PC6, for the side of the head.
Branch Ditch
Forearm point classically paired with stuck stools and rib-side tightness.
Shoulder Crevice
Back shoulder hollow, the San Jiao partner of LI15.
Wind Screen
The hollow behind the earlobe.
Use caution
Herbs often paired for a similar pattern
A study link, not a formula and not a dose.
Tags
zhongzhu · ear · temporal