EXT-15 - Flank Hall

胁堂穴 - Xiétáng

Point Region: Chest

EXT

Extra Points

其他穴位 - Qítā Xuéwèi

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the lateral thorax, in the region of the intercostal spaces, often used for localized pain or respiratory issues.

Extra points have no international location standard, and Chinese texts number and place some of them differently. This location follows common teaching.

How to Locate:

  1. Locate your armpit area
  2. Move your hand down to the side of your ribcage
  3. Find the spaces between the ribs (intercostal spaces)
  4. These areas between the ribs are EXT-15
(Illustration coming soon)

How to Apply Pressure

Having located EXT-15 in the rib spaces on the side of your chest, touch the area with flat fingertips and never push inward between the ribs. Skip it over rib fractures or chest trauma, and get urgent medical care for chest pain or breathing difficulty.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Chest tightness
  • Intercostal pain
  • Cough
  • Hypochondriac distention
  • Pleuritic pain
  • Rib pain

Related Health Concerns

Cold and Flu Onset

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Rib fracture
  • Severe chest trauma
  • Active chest infection

Take care:

  • Avoid excessive pressure over ribs
  • Be gentle with respiratory distress
  • Stop if pain increases