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Small Intestine Meridian (Tai Yang)

SI Shou Tai Yang Xiao Chang Jing 手太阳小肠经 Vuur Tai Yang 📍 19 points ➡️ Hand → Gezicht 🔗 Paired with HT 🕐 13:00–15:00

Introduction & pathophysiology

The Small Intestine Meridian (Tai Yang) regulates the separation of pure and impure substances. In dysfunction, we see abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, but also neck pain, shoulder pain, tinnitus, and hearing loss. The 19 points run from the pinky via the arm to the face. The peak hour is from 13:00 to 15:00.

Functions within TCM

1. Separates pure from impure
2. Regulates digestion
3. Influences neck and shoulder
4. Regulates hearing and tinnitus
5. Influences emotions

Clinical applications

**Neck/shoulder:** Neck stiffness, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder
**ENT:** Tinnitus, hearing loss, ear pain
**Mental:** Epilepsy, mental disorders
**Digestive:** Abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation
**Fever:** Malaria-like conditions

Primary dysfunction patterns

Small Intestine HeatDiarrhea, thirst, red tongueSmall Intestine ColdAbdominal pain, cramps, warmth seekingQi stagnationBloating, constipationBlood stagnationSharp pain, constipation

Key points

SI-3Neck pain, back pain, migraineSI-6Shoulder pain, neck painSI-19Tinnitus, deafness, ear painSI-18Facial paralysis, toothacheSI-1Lactation, fever, headache

Point selection per pattern

Small Intestine HeatSI-8, LI-11ST-37Small Intestine ColdSI-1(moxa), ST-25(moxa)CV-4Qi stagnationSI-3, SI-5ST-25, CV-6Blood stagnationSI-4, SI-7BL-17, SP-10

All points of the Small Intestine Meridian (Tai Yang)

SI-1

Lesser Marsh

Shaoze

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-2

Front Valley

Qiangu

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-3

Back Stream

Houxi

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-4

Wrist Bone

Wangu

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-5

Yang Valley

Yanggu

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-6

Support the Aged

Yanglao

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-7

Branch of Upright

Zhizheng

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-8

Small Sea

Xiaohai

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-9

True Shoulder

Jianzhen

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-10

Upper Arm Transporter

Naoshu

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-11

Heavenly Gathering

Tianzong

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-12

Grasping the Wind

Bingfeng

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-13

Crooked Wall

Quyuan

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-14

Outer Shoulder Transporter

Jianwaishu

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-15

Middle Shoulder Transporter

Jianzhongshu

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-16

Heavenly Window

Tianchuang

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-17

Heavenly Appearance

Tianrong

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-18

Cheek Bone Crevice

Quanliao

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

SI-19

Palace of Hearing

Tinggong

📍 Along the Small Intestine meridian pathway on the hand, arm, shoulder, neck, face

💊 Neck and shoulder pain, occipital headache, elbow and arm pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial disorders

📖 View details

Contraindications & safety

SI-18Avoid deep needling - nerve riskSI-19Caution with TMJ problemsSI-15Pneumothorax risk in thin patients

Relation with other meridians

Exterior-interior with Heart (HT)
Cooperation with Bladder (BL) for elimination
Reinforcing back points: BL-27, BL-26

Clinical notes

Small Intestine time: 13:00-15:00
Lunch should be before 13:00 for optimal digestion
SI-3 is the most important neck point

Comorbidity & drug interactions

DiureticsMay disturb SI warmth - support with SI-4PainkillersMask neck pain - be alertAntibioticsMay disrupt gut flora - support SI

Prognostic signs

Weak pulse at SI-4|Chronic neck pain - long treatment
Rapid, superficial pulse|Acute - good prognosis
Deep, weak pulse|Elderly patient - caution

Conclusion

The Small Intestine Meridian is important for neck pain, shoulder problems, and ENT issues.