SI4 (Wàngǔ, “Wàngǔ”) is the Yuan-Source Point point of the Small Intestine Channel Meridian. It is located on the ulnar side of the hand, in the depression between the base of the 5th metacarpal bone and the triquetral bone. This point is found by palpating along the ulnar border of the hand from the 5th metacarpal head towards the wrist, falling into the distinct hollow just proximal to the metacarpal base. It clears heat, reduces swelling, calms the spirit, relaxes the sinews and alleviates pain.
On the ulnar side of the hand, in the depression between the base of the 5th metacarpal bone and the triquetral bone. This point is found by palpating along the ulnar border of the hand from the 5th metacarpal head towards the wrist, falling into the distinct hollow just proximal to the metacarpal base.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
Clears heat, reduces swelling, calms the spirit, relaxes the sinews and alleviates pain.
Headache, neck and submandibular swelling, tinnitus, eye film with cold tearing, jaundice, heat disease with absence of sweating, thirst, malaria, mania and raving, fright and agitation, epilepsy, infantile convulsion with spasms, finger contracture, inability to flex or extend the fingers, hemiplegia, pain in the ribs and inability to breathe, arm and elbow pain, wrist pain.
As the Yuan-Source point of the Small Intestine channel, Wangu is a key point for addressing channel-related disorders and Fu-organ pathology. It is classically indicated for clearing heat and resolving damp-heat, as seen in its use for jaundice, and for calming the spirit in cases of mania, fright, and epilepsy. Its location makes it an essential local point for wrist pain and dysfunction, particularly for finger contractures and pain along the ulnar side of the arm.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫宗金鑑·刺灸心法要訣》 Yīzōng Jīnjiàn · Cìjiǔ Xīnfǎ Yàojué — Golden Mirror of Medicine: Essential Teachings on Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wu Qian et al., 1742 · 卷一 · 十二經表裡原絡總歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
手太陽小腸經病，可刺本經表之原穴，即腕骨穴也The text records that for disorders of the hand Taiyang small intestine channel one may needle the yuan-source point of this exterior channel, namely SI4.
《十四經發揮》 Shísì Jīng Fāhuī — Exposition of the Fourteen Channels, 1341 · Source: Wikisource ↗
腕骨：在手外側腕前，起骨下陷中According to this text, SI4 lies on the outer side of the hand, in front of the wrist, in the depression below the protruding bone.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
腕骨，在手外側腕前，起骨下陷者中，手太陽脈之所過也，為原。 刺入二分，留三呼，灸三壯According to this text, SI4 lies on the outer side of the hand in front of the wrist, in the depression below the protruding bone; the hand Taiyang passes here and it is the yuan-source point. Needle 0.2 cun, retain three breaths, moxibustion 3 cones.
《子午流注針經》 Zǐwǔ Liúzhù Zhēnjīng — Needling Classic of the Midday-Midnight Flow, Yan Mingguang, c. 1153 · 卷下 · 針經井滎歌訣 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
腕骨為原手踝中，熱病相連汁出頻，
目中淚出兼生翳，偏枯臂舉只神針The text, in verse, records SI4 as the yuan point at the wrist, used for febrile disease with constant sweating, tearing eyes with membranes, and one-sided withering with inability to raise the arm.
SI4 is one of 19 points on the Small Intestine Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
SI4 (Wàngǔ) is located on the ulnar side of the hand, in the depression between the base of the 5th metacarpal bone and the triquetral bone. This point is found by palpating along the ulnar border of the hand from the 5th metacarpal head towards the wrist, falling into the distinct hollow just proximal to the metacarpal base.
SI4 clears heat, reduces swelling, calms the spirit, relaxes the sinews and alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include headache, neck and submandibular swelling, tinnitus, eye film with cold tearing, jaundice, heat disease with absence of sweating, thirst, malaria, mania and raving, fright and agitation, epilepsy, infantile convulsion with spasms, finger contracture, inability to flex or extend the fingers, hemiplegia, pain in the ribs and inability to breathe, arm and elbow pain, wrist pain.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
SI4 is a point on the Small Intestine Channel Meridian (Shǒu Tài Yáng Xiǎo Cháng Jīng).