TB5 Wàiguān

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

TB5 (Wàiguān, “Wàiguān”) is the Luo-Connecting point of the San Jiao channel point of the Triple Burner Meridian. It is located on the dorsal aspect of the forearm, in a depression between the radius and ulna, 2 cun proximal to the dorsal wrist crease. It expels wind and resolves the exterior, clears heat, activates the channel and alleviates pain, soothes the sinews, opens the orifices, and connects with the Pericardium channel.

Location

On the dorsal aspect of the forearm, in a depression between the radius and ulna, 2 cun proximal to the dorsal wrist crease.

Needling

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, or oblique insertion proximally or distally.

TCM functions

Expels wind and resolves the exterior, clears heat, activates the channel and alleviates pain, soothes the sinews, opens the orifices, and connects with the Pericardium channel..

Indications

Lockjaw, trismus, facial paralysis, elbow and wrist pain with difficult flexion and extension, pain of the five fingers, inability to grasp objects, arm weakness and numbness, elbow and arm aching and heaviness, arm cannot reach the head, deafness, tinnitus, toothache, chills and fever, headache, dizziness, limb joint pain, coldness in the shoulder and arm, hand and foot heat, hand and foot numbness and pain, epistaxis (nosebleed), red eyes, eye pain, eye film or opacity, watery eyes,night sweats, pain in the arms, head, and neck, pain in the lumbar and back, pain in the lumbar and hip, tetanus, postpartum body swelling, infantile malnutrition with sores..

Luo-Connecting point of the San Jiao channelEight Confluent Point (connecting with the Yang Wei Mai)

Clinical notes

As the Luo-connecting point of the San Jiao and the confluent point of the Yang Wei Mai, Waiguan is a primary point for expelling exterior pathogens, treating chills and fever, and addressing disorders along the entire Shaoyang channel, especially headache, ear problems, and pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm. Its connection to the Yang Wei Mai makes it effective for a wide array of systemic and channel-related pain and febrile conditions. It is frequently paired with Zulinqi (GB41) to open the Yang Wei and Dai Mai, powerfully treating pain and stagnation throughout the body's exterior and lateral aspects.

On the Triple Burner channel

TB5 is one of 23 points on the Triple Burner Meridian. Nearby points:

Frequently asked questions

Where is TB5 located?

TB5 (Wàiguān) is located on the dorsal aspect of the forearm, in a depression between the radius and ulna, 2 cun proximal to the dorsal wrist crease.

What is TB5 used for?

TB5 expels wind and resolves the exterior, clears heat, activates the channel and alleviates pain, soothes the sinews, opens the orifices, and connects with the Pericardium channel. Common clinical indications include lockjaw, trismus, facial paralysis, elbow and wrist pain with difficult flexion and extension, pain of the five fingers, inability to grasp objects, arm weakness and numbness, elbow and arm aching and heaviness, arm cannot reach the head, deafness, tinnitus, toothache, chills and fever, headache, dizziness, limb joint pain, coldness in the shoulder and arm, hand and foot heat, hand and foot numbness and pain, epistaxis (nosebleed), red eyes, eye pain, eye film or opacity, watery eyes,night sweats, pain in the arms, head, and neck, pain in the lumbar and back, pain in the lumbar and hip, tetanus, postpartum body swelling, infantile malnutrition with sores.

How is TB5 needled?

Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, or oblique insertion proximally or distally.

Which meridian is TB5 on?

TB5 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.