Small Intestine Meridian

Question 1

Trace the Small Intestine Meridian, count out the number of points and say if it is yin or yang.

Answer 1

19 points, yang and sympathetic

Question 2

SI 3 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 2

With a loose fist, the point is found on the ulnar aspect of the hand at the end of the skin fold just proximal to the head of the 5th metacarpal bone.

Perpendicular at a depth of 0.5 to 0.7 cun

Sympathetic switch, problems on the ulnar side of the hand, ulnar neuritis, neck pain and stiffness, posterior aspect headache, back pain, stiffness and pain of the fingers, elbow and shoulder

Question 3

SI 6 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 3

Dorsal aspect of the forearm, with palm of the hand facing the chest, in the groove btw the ulnar head and the radius, proximal to the radio-ulnar ligament

Angle of 45 degrees obliquely btw the radius and the ulna at a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 cun

TMJ disorders, generalised MSK pain due to aging, neck, upper and lower extremities, joints, arthritis of the wrist, tendinitis due to repetitive strain of injury of the forearm

Question 4

SI 8 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 4

Mid point btw the medial epicondyle and the olecranon ulnar groove

Perpendicular or proximal to distal or distal to proximal along the ulnar nerve (needle direction should be toward pain) at a depth of 0.3 to 0.8 cun

Ulnar neuropathy, medial epicondylitis, OA and RA of the elbow

Question 5

SI 9 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 5

1 cun above the posterior axillary fold when the arm is adducted, btw the teres muscles

Insertion is post to ant at a depth of 0.5 cun to 1 cun

Any problem with the shoulder joint, alternative to LI 15 and TE 14 when abduction is limited, used to treat teres major and minor muscles

Question 6

SI 11 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 6

Midway on the line connecting the mid point of the upper margin of the spine of the scapula and inferior angle of the scapula

Insertion is oblique, medial to lateral and inferior to superior at a depth of 0.5 to 1 cun

Myofascial pain/inflammation of the infraspinatus, impaired external rotation of the shoulder, trigger points in infraspinatus

Question 7

SI 12 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 7

In the supraspinous fossa, direct above the mid point of the spine of the scapula

Aim towards the floor of the supraspinous fossa, down into the supraspinatus muscle at a depth of 0.5 to 1 cun

Supraspinatus myofascial pain/strain, supraspinatus tendonitis, impaired shoulder abduction, stiff neck and pain in the scapular region

Question 8

SI 13 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 8

Medial corner of the supraspinatus fossa

Perpendicular or oblique toward the supraspinous fossa at a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 cun

Pain and stiffness in the scapular region, neck and shoulder stiffness and pain

Question 9

SI 14 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 9

3 cun lateral to the midline at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of T1

Oblique, inferior to superior and medially, pick up the tissue like with GB 21 needle at a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 cun

Rhomboid strain, pain and inflammation and stiffness in the neck/shoulder region, aching in the scapulothoracic joint

Question 10

SI 15 location, insertion and needling depth, use?

Answer 10

2 cun lateral to the midline at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of C7 (GB14)

Oblique, inferior to superior at a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 cun

Rhomboid strain, levator scap myofascial pain and dysfunction, pain and inflammation in the neck and shoulder region

Question 11

SI 19

Answer 11

On the face, anterior to the tragus of the ear, posterior to the condyle of the mandible, in the middle of the groove/depression when the mouth is slightly open

Perpendicular at a depth of 0.5 to 1.5 cun

TMJ pain and dysfunction, hearing loss in high or low freq, tinnitus and dizziness