POINT: SI-3 (SMALL INTESTINE-3)

NAME: HOUXI

English:	Back Stream
Also Known As:	Back Creek Back Ravine Creek at the Rear

LOCATION:

On the ulnar border of the hand, in the substantial depression proximal to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone.
Locate when the hand is made into a fist.
When the hand is clenched in a fist this point is found behind and lateral to the head of the fifth metacarpus, at the top of the transverse crease formed by the clenched fist.
When a loose fist is made, the point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease, proximal to the fifth metacarpalphalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and the junction of the red and white skin.

NEEDLING:

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 2 Cun directed toward LI-3 Sanjian.
Needle with the hand in a loose fist with the metacarpal bones in the same plane.
Puncture 0.5-0.7 Cun.
Moxibustion is applicable.

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

Shu-Stream point of the Small Intestine channel
Wood point of the Small Intestine channel
Confluent (Master) point of the Governing vessel (DU channel)
Coupled Point of the Yangqiao channel
Tonification point
Vitality point
Reunion point of the SI, LI, ST, SJ, GB, LU, REN and DU channels

ACTIONS:

Benefits the occiput, neck and back
Activates the channel
Alleviates pain
Clears Wind and Heat
Treats malaria
Resolves jaundice
Clears Fire, Heat and Summerheat
Calms the Shen
Treats epilepsy
Benefits the sensory orifices
Regulates the Governing vessel (DU channel)
Eliminates Interior Wind from the Governing vessel
Benefits the sinews
Benefits the joints
Resolves Dampness
Clears the mind
Relaxes the Muscle channels
Drains pathogenic influences from the Heart
Regulates sweating

INDICATIONS:

Stiffness and pain of the neck or upper back
Difficulty turning the neck
One-sided headache
Bilateral headache
Back pain
Shoulder pain
Elbow and arm pain
Contraction of the elbow
Contraction and pain of the fingers
Pain in all of the fingers
Lumbar and knee pain
Hemiplegia
Malaria
Night sweating
Cold shivering
Chills and fever
Febrile disease with absence of sweating
Aches down the spine and back
Psychosis
Intercostal neuralgia
Eyes red and painful
Red eyes with a veil before the eyes
Congestion of the eyes
Madness (calm type)
Dermatosis
Very bad digestion
Pain in the forearm
Deep depression
Sore throat
Scabies
Dizziness
Conjunctivitis
Muscular tetany
Whiplash
Spasms of the neck
Hypertension
Intercostal neuralgia
Fullness in the chest
Common cold
Plague
Cold abscess

Febrile diseases without sweating
Vertigo
Fullness of the chest
Jaundice
Dark, hesitant urine
Epilepsy
Manic-depression
Governing vessel disorders
Deafness
Tinnitus
Superficial visual obstruction
Redness and pain of the eyes
Swelling of the eyes with lachrymation
Epistaxis
Toothache
Swelling of the throat and cheek
Redness, swelling and pain of both cheeks
Loss of voice following Windstroke
Seizures
Hysteria
Deaf-mutism
Problems of the conjunctiva
Tidal fevers
Tremendous fears
Greasy stools
Slow recovery after shock or surgery
Multiple sclerosis
Paralysis
Dry mouth
Bi syndrome with general aches
Occipital headache
Pain in the neck and head
Neck rigidity
Keratitis
Manic psychosis
Depressive psychosis
Membrane on the eye
Lower limb neuralgia
Hand tremor
Skin diseases with itching

COMBINATIONS:

HT-6 Yinxi	SI-1 Shaoze SI-2 Qiangu	SJ-16 Tianyou
Severe night sweating	Clears both Exterior and Interior Heat from the Small Intestine channel in the head, especially the ears and eyes and benefits the sensory orifices	Stiffness of the neck with inability to turn the head
UB-10 Tianzhu DU-13 Taodao UB-11 Dazhu LU-6 Kongzui	SJ-5 Waiguan	LI-10 Shousanli LI-11 Quchi
Headache	Pain of the head and eyes	Pain of the forearm
LU-5 Chize LI-5 Jianyu SI-8 Xiaohai PC-5 Jianshi PC-7 Daling LU-10 Yuji	SI-4 Wangu UB-12 Fengmen GB-21 Jianjing SJ-3 Zhongzhu SJ-6 Zhigou UB-40 Weizhong	DU-14 Dazhui PC-5 Jianshi LI-11 Quchi
Contraction of the elbow	Pain of the shoulder and back	Malaria with much Heat and little Cold
REN-15 Jiuwei HT-7 Shenmen	PC-6 Neiguan REN-15 Jiuwei HT-7 Shenmen SP-1 Yinbai	UB-2 Zanzhu SI-8 Xiaohai DU-18 Qiangjian
The five types of epilepsy	Epilepsy	Epileptic convulsions, mad walking, inability to sleep and agitation of the Heart
HT-7 Shenmen ST-42 Chongyang	PC-5 Jianshi LI-4 Hegu	SI-2 Qiangu LI-6 Pianli
Mania, desire to ascend to high places and sing, discards clothing and runs around	Sudden mania	Deafness
GB-18 Chengling GB-20 Fengchi UB-12 Fengmen UB-45 Yixi	PC-8 *Laogong*	UB-62 Shenmai
Epistaxis with stifled breathing	Jaundice	Activates the Governing vessel and can be used to affect the whole spine in both acute and chronic cases (do not use for one-sided pain) Tonifies the Kidneys (primarily in men) Releases ACTH and sex hormones
UB-62 Shenmai LU-7 Lieque KI-6 Zhaohai	DU-14 Dazhui PC-5 Jianshi	UB-37 Yimen Pain points Ahshi
Chronic lower back pain in women	Tertian malaria	Lower back spasm
GB-30 Huantiao	LI-11 Quchi M-HN-30 Bailiao	LI-4 Hegu
Painful legs	Tidal fevers with more chills than fever	Join to SI-3 for finger spasm
LI-4 Hegu or KI-7 Fuliu
Regulates sweating

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

NOTES:

This point has a significant influence on the spine as a whole and is frequently used for pain of the upper spine and scapula as well as the lumbar spine.
This point may be needled deeply towards LI-3 when all four fingers are affected.
This is an important point to expel febrile disease.
It is most effective in acute rather than chronic cases.
Reinforce to create sweating in fever.
Reduce to stop night sweats.
This is a first aid point for convulsions.(especially Intestinal spasms with loss of consciousness).
To regulate sweating, reduce to stop sweating and reinforce to create sweat.