Shu-stream (wood) point.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Zhong" (中), middle or center; "zhu" (渚), sandbank by water. Triple energizer governs fluids, and this acupoint belongs to hand shaoyang triple energizer meridian. It is located between two metacarpal bones, hence its name.

bubble_chart Location

Zhongzhu (TE3) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On dorsum of hand, between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones, in the depression posterior to metacarpophalangeal joint. It is situated at anterior one-third point of the space between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones on dorsum of hand, level withHouxi (SI3) on ulnar side, and opposite to Shaofu (HT8) on palm.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In the depression posterior to base of little finger";
• Shenying Jing: "1 cun below Yemen (TE2)";
• Zhenfang Liuji: "In the depression 5 fen posterior to base of ring finger".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: fourth dorsal interosseous muscle
• Nerve: dorsal digital nerve.
• Vessels: subcutaneously, dorsal venous network of hand (which continues upward as basilic vein) and fourth dorsal metacarpal artery.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Avoid superficial veins. Insert perpendicularly or obliquely toward wrist, 0.3~0.5 cun in depth. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 5 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Discharge heat, improve hearing.

• Classical: headache, febrile diseases, malaria, red eyes, tinnitus, deafness, sore throat, neck pain, itching of body and face, numbness of limbs, back pain, swelling and pain of elbows and arms, inability to flex or extend all fingers.
• Modern: supraorbital neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, otitis media, acute conjunctivitis, wrist weakness.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Pharyngeal swelling: Zhongzhu (TE3), Taixi (KI3).
• Throat pain: Zhigou (TE6), Zhongzhu (TE3), Neiting (ST44).
• Tinnitus and deafness: Ermen (TE21), Zhongzhu (TE3).