PC3 (Quze, “Marsh at the Crook”) is the He-Sea Point point of the Pericardium Channel Meridian. It is located on the transverse cubital crease, in the depression on the ulnar side of the biceps brachii tendon. The point is located with the elbow flexed. It clears heat from the Qi, Nutritive, and Blood levels, harmonizes the Stomach and intestines, stops vomiting, calms the spirit, and activates the channel to alleviate pain.
On the transverse cubital crease, in the depression on the ulnar side of the biceps brachii tendon. The point is located with the elbow flexed.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun, or prick the cubital vein to bleed. The brachial artery and median nerve are located medially to the tendon, so care must be taken.
Clears heat from the Qi, Nutritive, and Blood levels, harmonizes the Stomach and intestines, stops vomiting, calms the spirit, and activates the channel to alleviate pain.
Heart pain, vexation and thirst, dry mouth, rebellious qi with vomiting of saliva, blood, or sputum, wind rash, trembling of the arm, elbow and wrist, elbow spasms, palpitations, fright, body heat, cold damage with rebellious qi and vomiting, infantile convulsions, heat in the palms.
As the He-Sea point of the Pericardium channel, Quze excels at clearing heat from the chest and calming the Stomach. It is a primary point for acute gastroenteritis, sunstroke, and high fevers, often bled to achieve a rapid cooling effect. Its ability to address both heart pain and vomiting makes it crucial for disorders where rebellious Stomach Qi agitates the Heart and Spirit.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
曲澤者，水也，在肘內廉下陷者中，屈肘得之，手心主脈之所入也，為合，留七呼，灸三壯According to this text, PC3 is the water point, in the depression on the lower inner side of the elbow, found with the elbow bent, where the hand Xinzhu (pericardium) vessel enters, as the he-sea point; the needle is retained seven breaths and 3 moxa cones are applied.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之一·神照集 · 心主手厥陰心包絡經圖穴十六 · 手厥陰心包絡脈所發九穴（左右共一十八穴，一名手心主脈） · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
曲澤二穴，水也。 在手肘內廉下陷中，屈肘，得之橫紋兩筋中間，用手拄腰，便於下針According to this text, PC3 (two points, water) lies in the depression on the lower inner side of the elbow, found with the elbow bent in the middle of the crease between two tendons; resting the hand on the waist makes needling easier.
《扁鵲神應針灸玉龍經》 Biǎn Què Shényìng Zhēnjiǔ Yùlóng Jīng — Bian Que's Jade Dragon Classic of Divinely Responsive Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1329 · 臂细筋寒骨痛 · Source: Wikisource ↗
曲泽∶在肘横纹筋里，与尺泽穴对，筋外尺泽穴，筋内曲泽穴，陷中。 针三分，痛，泻，禁灸According to this text, PC3 lies in the depression of the elbow crease inside the tendon, opposite Chize (which lies outside the tendon); it is needled 3 fen, draining for pain, and moxibustion is forbidden.
《類經》 Lèijīng — Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 卷一 · Source: Wikisource ↗
但遇风寒痛痹等疾，即以绳带紧束上臂，令手肘青筋胀突，乃用磁锋於肘中曲泽穴次，合絡结上，砭取其血，謂之放寒The text records that for wind-cold painful bi, the upper arm was tightly bound to make the veins at the elbow swell, and blood was let with a porcelain shard at the knotted vessels near PC3 in the middle of the elbow, a practice called 'releasing cold'.
PC3 is one of 9 points on the Pericardium Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
PC3 (Quze) is located on the transverse cubital crease, in the depression on the ulnar side of the biceps brachii tendon. The point is located with the elbow flexed.
PC3 clears heat from the Qi, Nutritive, and Blood levels, harmonizes the Stomach and intestines, stops vomiting, calms the spirit, and activates the channel to alleviate pain. Common clinical indications include heart pain, vexation and thirst, dry mouth, rebellious qi with vomiting of saliva, blood, or sputum, wind rash, trembling of the arm, elbow and wrist, elbow spasms, palpitations, fright, body heat, cold damage with rebellious qi and vomiting, infantile convulsions, heat in the palms.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun, or prick the cubital vein to bleed. The brachial artery and median nerve are located medially to the tendon, so care must be taken. Caution: Adjacent to the brachial artery — palpate and avoid the vessel; do not needle into a pulsating artery.
PC3 is a point on the Pericardium Channel Meridian (Xīnbāo Jīng).