SI6 (Yǎnglǎo, “Nourishing the Aged”) is the Xi-Cleft point point of the Small Intestine Channel Meridian. It is located on the dorsal aspect of the wrist, in a depression 1 cun proximal to the dorsal wrist crease, located in the cleft on the radial side of the head of the ulna. This point is most easily found with the palm turned towards the chest, which opens the cleft. It activates the channel, alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder and arm, and brightens the eyes.
On the dorsal aspect of the wrist, in a depression 1 cun proximal to the dorsal wrist crease, located in the cleft on the radial side of the head of the ulna. This point is most easily found with the palm turned towards the chest, which opens the cleft.
With the palm facing the chest, needle obliquely and proximally towards the center of the forearm, or transversely towards LI5, 0.5 to 1.0 cun.
Activates the channel, alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder and arm, and brightens the eyes.
Shoulder pain as if it will break, arm pain as if it is being pulled out, inability to raise or lower the hand, shoulder and arm soreness, blurry or indistinct vision, hand and finger contracture, inability to move the hand up and down, uncomfortable sensation in the eyes.
Yanglao is a crucial distal point for acute and chronic pain of the entire arm, from the shoulder to the wrist. Its name, 'Nourishing the Aged', highlights its traditional use for improving vision, particularly in cases of age-related decline. The specific method of locating the point by rotating the forearm is key to accessing the cleft where the point resides and is a classic example of a dynamic point location.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《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 · 丙手太阳小肠经 · Source: Wikisource ↗
养老 抵少阴络，在踝骨上一寸，沿皮向下至阳谷。 治肩背强急，眼痛According to this text, SI6 reaches the Shaoyin connecting vessel and lies 1 cun above the wrist bone, needled along the skin downward toward Yanggu (SI5); it was used for stiffness of the shoulder and back and eye pain.
《針灸逢源》 Zhēnjiǔ Féngyuán — Sources of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Li Xuechuan, 1815 · 卷四 · 經穴考正 · 手太陽小腸經穴考 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
養老 在手外側銳骨上一空。 腕後一寸許陷中。 手太陽郄（針三分。 灸三壯）治肩臂痠疼手不能自上下According to this text, SI6 lies on the outer side of the hand, in the hollow above the sharp bone, in the depression about 1 cun behind the wrist; it is the xi-cleft point of the hand Taiyang. Needle 0.3 cun, moxibustion 3 cones; it was used for aching shoulder and arm with inability to move the hand up and down.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
銅人針三分，灸三壯。 主肩臂痠痛，肩欲折，臂如拔，手不能自上下，目視不明The text records that, according to the Tongren, SI6 is needled 0.3 cun with 3 moxa cones, and that it was used for aching shoulder and arm, the shoulder feeling as if broken and the arm as if pulled out, inability to move the hand up and down, and unclear vision.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 手太陽凡一十六穴第二十八 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
養老二穴，主項肩如折，肘臂如拔，手不能上下，耳痛目腫The text records that SI6 was used when the nape and shoulder feel as if broken, the elbow and arm as if pulled out, the hand cannot move up and down, and for ear pain and swollen eyes.
SI6 is one of 19 points on the Small Intestine Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
SI6 (Yǎnglǎo) is located on the dorsal aspect of the wrist, in a depression 1 cun proximal to the dorsal wrist crease, located in the cleft on the radial side of the head of the ulna. This point is most easily found with the palm turned towards the chest, which opens the cleft.
SI6 activates the channel, alleviates pain, benefits the shoulder and arm, and brightens the eyes. Common clinical indications include shoulder pain as if it will break, arm pain as if it is being pulled out, inability to raise or lower the hand, shoulder and arm soreness, blurry or indistinct vision, hand and finger contracture, inability to move the hand up and down, uncomfortable sensation in the eyes.
With the palm facing the chest, needle obliquely and proximally towards the center of the forearm, or transversely towards LI5, 0.5 to 1.0 cun.
SI6 is a point on the Small Intestine Channel Meridian (Shǒu Tài Yáng Xiǎo Cháng Jīng).