Shu-stream (wood) point; one of the eight confluence points, connecting governor vessel.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Hou" (後), rear; "xi" (溪), stream, valley; Suwen-Qixue Lun: "The small convergence of flesh is called a stream." The acupoint is located at the border of red and white flesh behind the small finger's base joint, hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

Houxi (SI3) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the ulnar side of palm, behind small finger's base joint (the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint) at the border of red and white flesh. When making a fist, it is at the ulnar end of distal palmar crease.

• Lingshu-Benshu: "Behind the base joint on the outer side of hand."
• Rumen Shiqin-Convulsion: "At the end of crease formed when bending small finger into a fist."
• Yixue Rumen: "At the tip of transverse crease on the outer side of small finger's base joint, obtained by making a fist."
• Leijing Tuyi: "In the depression below the protruding bone at the tip of fist."

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: abductor digiti minimi, oppositorum digiti minimi tendon, flexor digiti minimi brevis.
• Nerve: dorsal and palmar branches of ulnar nerve, palmar digital proper nerves.
• Vessel: ulnar artery of little finger.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Slightly clench fist, and insert perpendicularly toward palm side in the direction of Hegu (LI4) 0.5~1 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 5 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

resuscitation and enliven spirit, clear heat and soothe sinew, unblock governor vessel, consolidate exterior and stop sweating.

• Classical: chills and fever, red and painful eye, eye nebula, canthus ulceration, tinnitus and deafness, epistaxis, swelling of neck and jaw, heart pain with irritability and fullness, malaria, scabies, reddish-yellow urine, manic and depressive psychosis, headache and neck pain, spasm of hands and feet, stomach reflux, febrile disease without sweating, epilepsy, leg pain, night sweating, jaundice, stroke with aphasia, lower back and leg pain, numbness of hands and feet.
• Modern: intercostal neuralgia, neurasthenia, schizophrenia, malaria, stiff neck, acute lumbar sprain.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Jaundice: Houxi (SI3), Laogong (PC8).
• Chest and neck pain: Houxi (SI3), Lieque (LU7).
• Five types of epilepsy: Houxi (SI3), Jiuwei (CV15), Shenmen (HT7).
• Phlegm malaria with chills and fever: Houxi (SI3), Hegu (LI4).
• Tertian malaria: Houxi (SI3), Dazhui (GV14), Jianshi (PC5).
• Numbness and pain in fingers: Houxi (SI3), Sanjian (LI3), Baxie (EX-UE9).