SP6 (Sānyīnjiāo, “Three Yin Intersection”) is the Meeting point of the three foot yin channels point of the Spleen Channel Meridian. It is located on the medial aspect of the lower leg, in a depression just posterior to the tibial border, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus. It tonifies the Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys, regulates menstruation, resolves dampness, harmonizes the lower jiao, calms the spirit, and invigorates blood.
On the medial aspect of the lower leg, in a depression just posterior to the tibial border, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun, slightly posterior to the tibia.
Tonifies the Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys, regulates menstruation, resolves dampness, harmonizes the lower jiao, calms the spirit, and invigorates blood.
Abdominal distention, borborygmus, loose stools, undigested food in stool, spleen disease with heaviness of the body, inability to lift the four limbs, coldness in the abdomen, abdominal masses, pain in the inner thigh and knee, difficulty urinating, foot weakness (atrophy) and inability to walk, hernia, seminal emission, nocturnal emissions, male genital pain, impotence, insomnia, fright and inability to sleep, tetany with cold limbs, cholera with cold hands and feet, vomiting water after eating, water swelling , women's irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding , amenorrhea, infertility, difficult labor, retained placenta, postpartum fainting from blood loss, postpartum retained lochia, leukorrhea (red and white), sudden death after childbirth, infantile convulsions .
As the meeting point of the three foot yin channels, Sanyinjiao is a paramount point for treating disorders of the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney. It is exceptionally important for digestive issues, such as abdominal distention and diarrhea, and is arguably the most significant distal point for gynecological and urogenital conditions, including menstrual irregularities, infertility, and seminal emission. Its ability to calm the spirit also makes it useful for insomnia, especially when rooted in yin or blood deficiency.
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 · 脚气 · Source: Wikisource ↗
三阴交∶在内踝上三寸，取中骨陷中。 又云，在内踝上八寸。 脚氣，三寸，泻； 妇人鬼胎，八寸，针三分According to this text, SP6 lies 3 cun above the inner ankle, in the depression by the bone, though another account places it 8 cun above; for leg qi (jiaoqi) the 3-cun point is drained, and for a 'ghost fetus' in women the 8-cun point is needled 0.3 cun.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
三陰交，在內踝上三寸，骨下陷者中，足太陰、厥陰、少陰之會，刺入三分，留七呼，灸三壯According to this text, SP6 lies 3 cun above the inner ankle, in the depression below the bone, and is the meeting point of the foot Taiyin, Jueyin and Shaoyin; needle 0.3 cun, retain seven breaths, moxibustion 3 cones.
《子午流注針經》 Zǐwǔ Liúzhù Zhēnjīng — Needling Classic of the Midday-Midnight Flow, Yan Mingguang, c. 1153 · 卷上 · 流注指微針賦 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
文伯因自請針之令落，於是瀉足三陰交，補手陽明The text recounts that Xu Wenbo asked to use needling to bring down a pregnancy, and accordingly drained SP6 and tonified the hand Yangming; it is a historical anecdote, cited in later texts as a caution about this point in pregnancy.
SP6 is one of 21 points on the Spleen Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
SP6 (Sānyīnjiāo) is located on the medial aspect of the lower leg, in a depression just posterior to the tibial border, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus.
SP6 tonifies the Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys, regulates menstruation, resolves dampness, harmonizes the lower jiao, calms the spirit, and invigorates blood. Common clinical indications include abdominal distention, borborygmus, loose stools, undigested food in stool, spleen disease with heaviness of the body, inability to lift the four limbs, coldness in the abdomen, abdominal masses, pain in the inner thigh and knee, difficulty urinating, foot weakness (atrophy) and inability to walk, hernia, seminal emission, nocturnal emissions, male genital pain, impotence, insomnia, fright and inability to sleep, tetany with cold limbs, cholera with cold hands and feet, vomiting water after eating, water swelling , women's irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding , amenorrhea, infertility, difficult labor, retained placenta, postpartum fainting from blood loss, postpartum retained lochia, leukorrhea (red and white), sudden death after childbirth, infantile convulsions.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun, slightly posterior to the tibia. Caution: Traditionally avoided or used with caution in PREGNANCY (strong qi/blood-moving or labour-promoting action). Contraindicated in pregnancy. The Zhen Jiu Ju Ying recounts a story of its use to induce abortion and discusses the principle: draining SP6 (Blood) and supplementing LI4 (Qi) causes the fetus to descend.
SP6 is a point on the Spleen Channel Meridian (Zú Tài Yīn Pí Jīng).