TE-6 - Branch Ditch

支沟 - Zhī gōu

Point Region: Forearm

TE

Triple Energizer Meridian

手少阳三焦经 - Shǒu Shàoyáng Sānjiāo Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the back of the forearm, midway between the radius and the ulna, 3 cun above the wrist crease on the back of the hand. It lies 1 cun above TE-5, level with TE-7.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find the wrist crease on the back of your hand
  2. Measure four finger-widths up the forearm
  3. The point is midway between the two forearm bones
TE-6 (Branch Ditch) acupressure point location: On the back of the forearm, midway between the radius and the ulna, 3 cun above the wrist crease on the back of the hand.

How to Apply Pressure

After identifying TE-6, apply gentle fingertip pressure midway between the forearm bones without pressing into the bone. Skip it during severe diarrhea or after recent abdominal surgery, which needs medical care.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
  • Febrile disease
  • Bowel problems
  • Nausea
  • Rib pain
  • Fever
  • Arm weakness

Related Health Concerns

ConstipationNausea and VomitingFatigue

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

Traditionally combined with:

TE-6 + SP-6
Three Yin Intersection
TE-6 + ST-25
Heaven's Pivot

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Severe diarrhea
  • Recent abdominal surgery