EXT-5 - Supreme Yang

太阳 - Tài yáng

Point Region: Face

EXT

Extra Points

其他穴位 - Qítā Xuéwèi

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: In the depression of the temple, over the temporalis 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:

  1. Locate your temples
  2. Find the depression between your eye and ear
  3. This is the soft hollow area above the cheekbone
  4. This depression in the temple is EXT-5
(Illustration coming soon)

How to Apply Pressure

Find the soft hollow at the temple and press with the flat of the fingertips, gently, on both sides at once if that is comfortable. An artery runs close by, so keep the pressure light, and skip it after a head injury or with temple pain that is new or unexplained.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Temporal headache
  • Red eyes
  • Eye pain
  • Dizziness
  • Migraine
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Jaw tension

Related Health Concerns

HeadacheMigraineTension HeadacheFeeling FaintNeuralgia

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

Traditionally combined with:

EXT-5 + GB-20
Wind Pool
EXT-5 + ST-8
Head's Binding

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Temporal artery inflammation
  • Recent head trauma
  • Severe temporal pain of unknown origin

Take care:

  • Avoid excessive pressure over temporal artery
  • Be gentle with elderly patients