Name
外關
- Wai Guan
- Outer Gate
Location
2 CUN above the wrist crease, between the ulna and radius.
Nature
- Connecting (Luo) Point of the Triple Burner, communicates with the Pericardium Channel
- Opening point of Yang Linking Vessel
Functions
- Releases the surface of the body, expels pathogenic Qi LI-4 + TE-5 (early onset cold, flu, etc.)
- Treats all head disorders: headache, migraine and ear pain (from exterior Wind invasion)
- Acts on the skin: itching, chapped lips, mouth ulcers
- Lesser Yang Pattern
- Chronic obstruction of the Triple Burner Channel: migraine in temporal zone, ear pain, rib pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, finger pain (arthritis, gout, etc.)
- Pain in the fingers with difficulty grasping objects. Arthritis: TE-5 + LI-11 + LI-4 + TE-4 + TE-13, TE-10
- All types of forearm pain: hand, wrist, fingers
- Expels Wind: tremor, paralysis, hemiplegia, loss of strength
Symptoms of longitudinal Connecting vessel
- Fullness: stiffness and pain of the elbow, epicondylitis
- Emptiness: flaccidity of the elbow, weakness
Comments
- Unblocks the Triple Burner Channel, it is a point that works very well for ear disorders.
- Due to the relationship between Yang Linking Vessel and Yin Linking Vessel in the Connecting points of the Triple Burner and Pericardium, this point can be used in combination with PC-6 to regulate the body's Yin and Yang: if there is an obvious pulse difference between left and right hand that manifests more Qi than Blood, you can disperse TE-5 and tonify PC-6 to increase Yin and sedate Yang overall. And conversely: if the pulse of the left hand is stronger than the right, more Blood than Qi, you can disperse PC-6 and tonify TE-5.
Treatment
- Needling: 0.3 CUN