TE-9 - Four Rivers

四渎 - Sì dú

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, 5 cun below the tip of the elbow (the olecranon).

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 tip of your elbow
  2. Measure four finger-widths plus two thumb-widths down the back of the forearm
  3. The point is midway between the two forearm bones
TE-9 (Four Rivers) acupressure point location: On the back of the forearm, midway between the radius and the ulna, 5 cun below the tip of the elbow (the olecranon).

How to Apply Pressure

With TE-9 found midway between the forearm bones below the elbow, knead gently with relaxed fingers rather than deep digging. Avoid it after recent forearm surgery or an acute arm fracture, and stop if pressure worsens a headache or jaw pain.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Forearm pain
  • Tinnitus
  • Deafness
  • Toothache
  • Arm pain
  • Ear ringing
  • Hearing problems
  • Dental pain
  • Jaw pain

Related Health Concerns

Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)Dental Pain

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Recent dental surgery
  • Severe elbow injury
  • Acute arm fracture