SI-3 - Back Stream

后溪 - Hòu xī

Point Region: Hand

SI

Small Intestine Meridian

手太阳小肠经 - Shǒu Tàiyáng Xiǎochángjīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the edge of the hand, in the hollow just behind the knuckle of the little finger (the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint), where the palm skin meets the skin of the back of the hand. With the hand slightly bent, it is at the outer end of the long palm crease nearest the fingers.

How to Locate:

  1. Curl your hand slightly
  2. Find the long crease across your palm nearest the fingers
  3. The point is at its outer end, on the edge of the hand behind the little-finger knuckle
SI-3 (Back Stream) acupressure point location: On the edge of the hand, in the hollow just behind the knuckle of the little finger (the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint), where the palm skin meets the skin of the back of the hand.

How to Apply Pressure

Curl the hand slightly and find the outer end of the palm crease nearest the fingers, on the edge of the hand behind the little-finger knuckle. Press firmly with the other thumb, never painfully. Skip it after hand surgery or a neck injury, and if you have a seizure disorder ask your doctor first.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Neck stiffness
  • Headache
  • Back pain
  • Cervical pain
  • Occipital headache
  • Spine pain

Related Health Concerns

Tension HeadacheNeck and Shoulder PainHeadache

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

Traditionally combined with:

SI-3 + BL-62
Extending Vessel
SI-3 + GV-20
Hundred Meetings

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Active seizure disorder without medical supervision
  • Recent hand surgery
  • Severe neck injuries