EXT-24 - Huatuo's Spine Gaps
华佗夹脊 - Huá Tuó Jiā Jǐ
Point Region: Back/Spine
Location & How to Find
Anatomical Location: On the upper back, beside the spine at the level of each of the first six thoracic vertebrae (T1 to T6), in the paraspinal muscle.
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:
- Locate the prominent bone at the base of your neck (C7)
- Count down the vertebrae below it: the first is T1, the sixth is T6
- At each level, move half a finger-width to either side of the vertebra
- The points lie in the paraspinal muscle there, one pair per level
How to Apply Pressure
Press gently into the muscle half a finger-width beside the spine, one level at a time, and never onto the bone. Stop at once if numbness or tingling radiates, or if pain spreads around the ribs. Skip these points after spine surgery, over a thoracic spine or chest injury, with a severe heart condition or after a recent heart procedure. Chest pain that is new, severe or getting worse needs medical care, not pressure.
Traditional Indications
In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:
- Cough
- Shoulder pain
- Upper limb numbness
- Thoracic stiffness
- Upper back tension
- Respiratory disorders
- Chest tightness
- Thoracic pain
- Scapular tension
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Palpitations
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Intercostal pain
- Digestive disorders
Related Health Concerns
Related Acupoints
Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.
Important Precautions
Avoid this point with:
- Thoracic spine injury
- Severe upper back pain
- Recent spine surgery
- Severe chest pain
- Severe heart conditions
- Recent cardiac procedures
Take care:
- Avoid excessive pressure on spine
- Be gentle with elderly patients
- Stop if numbness or tingling occurs
- Be gentle with respiratory conditions
- Stop if pain radiates around ribs
- Be gentle with heart conditions
- Stop if chest pain worsens