TB11 Celestial Well

Reviewed by · Licensed Acupuncturist & TCM Physician · Last reviewed June 2026

TB11 (Tiānjǐng, “Celestial Well”) is the He-Sea Point point of the Triple Burner Meridian. It is located on the posterior aspect of the elbow, in a depression 1 cun superior to the olecranon (the tip of the elbow bone). The point is best found when the elbow is flexed, in the hollow between the two tendons and the bone. One classic suggests locating it by flexing the elbow and placing the hand on the opposite knee. It clears heat from the channel, transforms phlegm and dissipates nodules, calms the spirit, and activates the channel to alleviate pain.

Location

On the posterior aspect of the elbow, in a depression 1 cun superior to the olecranon (the tip of the elbow bone). The point is best found when the elbow is flexed, in the hollow between the two tendons and the bone. One classic suggests locating it by flexing the elbow and placing the hand on the opposite knee.

Needling

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun.

TCM functions

Clears heat from the channel, transforms phlegm and dissipates nodules, calms the spirit, and activates the channel to alleviate pain..

Indications

Elbow pain radiating to the shoulder, inability to flex and extend the elbow, arm numbness and paralysis, neck and shoulder pain, chest pain, heart pain, cough with shortness of breath, inability to speak, spitting pus, poor appetite, chills and fever, inability to lie down, fright, convulsions, epilepsy, sheep-like bleating epilepsy, mania, sadness and lack of joy, deafness, swollen throat, sore throat, sweating, sharp pain in the outer corner of the eye, cheek swelling, pain behind the ear, inability to grasp objects, drowsiness, general wind-damp pain (bi syndrome), pain from traumatic injury to the lower back and hip, ascending leg qi, malaria that occurs at mealtime, great wind with lack of sensation, sadness and lack of joy..

He-Sea PointEarth Point

Clinical notes

As the He-Sea and Earth point of the Sanjiao channel, Tianjing is a major point for clearing phlegm-heat and calming the spirit, making it effective for epilepsy, mania, and fright. It is also a primary local point for elbow pain, especially with difficulty in flexion and extension, and can treat pain that radiates up the channel to the shoulder and neck. Its ability to clear the channel and resolve phlegm also gives it utility in treating scrofula and goiter, though this is less emphasized in the provided texts.

On the Triple Burner channel

TB11 is one of 23 points on the Triple Burner Meridian. Nearby points:

Frequently asked questions

Where is TB11 located?

TB11 (Tiānjǐng) is located on the posterior aspect of the elbow, in a depression 1 cun superior to the olecranon (the tip of the elbow bone). The point is best found when the elbow is flexed, in the hollow between the two tendons and the bone. One classic suggests locating it by flexing the elbow and placing the hand on the opposite knee.

What is TB11 used for?

TB11 clears heat from the channel, transforms phlegm and dissipates nodules, calms the spirit, and activates the channel to alleviate pain. Common clinical indications include elbow pain radiating to the shoulder, inability to flex and extend the elbow, arm numbness and paralysis, neck and shoulder pain, chest pain, heart pain, cough with shortness of breath, inability to speak, spitting pus, poor appetite, chills and fever, inability to lie down, fright, convulsions, epilepsy, sheep-like bleating epilepsy, mania, sadness and lack of joy, deafness, swollen throat, sore throat, sweating, sharp pain in the outer corner of the eye, cheek swelling, pain behind the ear, inability to grasp objects, drowsiness, general wind-damp pain (bi syndrome), pain from traumatic injury to the lower back and hip, ascending leg qi, malaria that occurs at mealtime, great wind with lack of sensation, sadness and lack of joy.

How is TB11 needled?

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun.

Which meridian is TB11 on?

TB11 is a point on the Triple Burner Meridian (Sān Jiāo).

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⚠️ This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Acupuncture is a traditional practice; evidence varies by condition and study quality, and individual results differ. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. Always consult a qualified acupuncturist or physician.