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The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian originates at the tip of the little finger, follows the lateral aspect of the hand, ascends to the wrist and emerges from the styloid process of the ulna. It goes straight up along the lower border of the forearm bone, emerges between the two tendons on the medial side of the elbow, ascends along the posterior-lateral border of the upper arm, emerges from the shoulder joint, winds around the scapula, intersects at the shoulder, enters the supraclavicular fossa (Quepen), connects with the Heart, follows the pharynx, passes through the diaphragm to reach the Stomach, and belongs to the Small Intestine. Its branch arises from the supraclavicular fossa, follows the neck to the cheek, reaches the outer canthus, and turns into the ear. Another branch diverges from the cheek, ascends to the nasal region, reaches the inner canthus, and obliquely connects with the zygomatic area. When this meridian is affected, symptoms include sore throat, submandibular swelling, inability to look back, shoulder pain as if being pulled out, and arm pain as if broken. This meridian primarily governs diseases related to body fluids, such as deafness, yellowing of the eyes, cheek swelling, and pain along the posterior-lateral aspect of the neck, cheek, shoulder, elbow, and arm. In excess conditions, the Renying pulse is twice as large as the Qikou pulse; in deficiency conditions, the Renying pulse is smaller than the Qikou pulse.

The collateral vessel of the Hand-Taiyang meridian is named Zhizheng (Branching Correct). It is located five cun distal to the wrist, where it internally connects with the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Its branch ascends to the elbow and connects with the shoulder. In excess conditions, there is flaccidity of the joints and uselessness of the elbow; in deficiency conditions, warts may appear, small ones resembling scabies or corns on the fingers. Treatment involves stimulating this collateral.

The Hand-Taiyang Sinew Meridian originates above the little finger, binds at the wrist, ascends along the medial aspect of the forearm, and binds behind the sharp bone of the medial elbow. Tapping it transmits sensation to the little finger. It enters and binds in the axilla. Its branch runs posteriorly along the lateral border of the axilla, ascends around the scapula, follows the neck emerging anterior to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and binds at the occipital bone behind the ear. Another branch enters the ear; the straight branch emerges above the ear, descends to bind at the mandible, and ascends to connect with the outer canthus. Symptoms include pain radiating from the little finger to the posterior border of the medial elbow, pain entering the axilla, pain in the posterior axillary fold, pain winding around the scapula and radiating to the neck, tinnitus and pain radiating to the mandible, temporary blindness requiring prolonged time to recover vision, and stiffness of the head and neck sinews leading to goiter. For cold-heat disorders in the neck, treat with burning needle rapid puncture (Fanzhen Jiesi); for swellings, use a sharp needle to drain. The branch ascends to Quya, follows the anterior aspect of the ear, connects with the outer canthus, ascends to the forehead angle, and binds at the corner. Symptoms include spasms and twitching along the pathway. Treatment uses burning needle rapid puncture, stopping when symptoms resolve, using the painful point as the acupoint. This is called Zhongxia Bi (Midsummer Bi).

Diseases of the Small Intestine present with hypogastric pain, lumbar and spinal pain radiating to the testicles, frequent urgency for defecation, heat in the preauricular region, or extreme cold, or isolated heat in the shoulder, and heat between the little and ring fingers. If the pulse is sunken, these are signs of Small Intestine disease.

Pathogenic factors in the Small Intestine connect to the spermatic cord, attach to the spine, penetrate the Liver and Lung, and connect with the Heart system. Excess qi causes reversal and upward rushing against the Stomach and Intestines, disturbing the Liver and Lung, dispersing into the Mingmen (Blind Area), and knotting at the umbilicus. Therefore, treat by selecting the Hanyuan point to dissipate the pathogen, puncture the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian to tonify, select the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian to descend the rebellious qi, select the Upper and Lower Ju Xu points to eliminate the pathogen, and regulate according to the affected meridians.

The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian travels from the hand to the head, measuring five chi in length, totaling one zhang for both sides, with thirty-eight acupoints.

Shaoze (SI1) [Two points] (Also known as Shaoji, located at the radial side of the tip of the little finger, 0.1 cun distal to the nail corner, in the depression): Qian Gu (SI2) [Two points] (Located on the ulnar side of the little finger, proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint, in the depression): Houxi (SI3) [Two points] (Located on the ulnar side of the little finger, distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint, in the depression): Wanggu (SI4) [Two points] (Located on the lateral side of the hand, in the depression proximal to the pisiform bone): Yanggu (SI5) [Two points] (Located on the lateral side of the wrist, in the depression distal to the styloid process of the ulna): Yanglao (SI6) [Two points] (Located in the depression one cun posterior to the wrist, in the gap above the ulnar head): Zhizheng (SI7) [Two points] (Located five cun posterior to the wrist, connecting to the Hand-Shaoyin Meridian): Xiaohai (SI8) [Two points] (Located in the depression 0.5 cun distal to the medial epicondyle of the humerus, on the lateral side of the olecranon): Jianzhen (SI9) [Two points] (Located in the depression between the two bones below the posterior axillary fold): Tianzong (SI11) [Two points] (Located in the depression below the scapular spine, posterior to Bingfeng): Bingfeng (SI12) [Two points] (Located posterior to the acromion on the shoulder, with a gap when the arm is raised): Qu Yuan (SI13) [Two points] (Located in the depression in the center of the scapula): Jian Wai Shu (SI14) [Two points] (Located in the depression three cun lateral to the spinous process, on the superior border of the scapula): Jian Zhong Shu (SI15) [Two points] (Located in the depression two cun lateral to the spinous process, on the medial border of the scapula): Tian Chuang (SI16) [One name: Chuang Long] (Located in the depression where the pulse beats, anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, below the angle of the mandible, posterior to Futu): Tian Rong (SI17) [Two points] (Located posterior to the angle of the mandible, below the ear): Quan Liao (SI18) [Two points] (Located in the depression at the lower border of the zygomatic bone, at the end of the maxilla): Ting Gong (SI19) [Two points] (Located in the depression in front of the tragus, roughly the size of a mung bean).

Shaoze (SI1) belongs to Metal. It is the Jing-Well point where the Qi of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian issues. It treats malaria with chills and fever without sweating, bi-syndrome of the throat with tongue stiffness, dry mouth, irritability, arm pain with convulsions, cough, stiff neck unable to turn, pterygium covering the pupil. Moxibustion: one moxa cone; Acupuncture: insert 0.1 cun.

Qian Gu (SI2) belongs to Water. It is the Ying-Spring point where the Qi flows. It treats febrile diseases without sweating, malaria, epilepsy, tinnitus, submandibular swelling, throat bi, cough with hemoptysis, neck pain, nasal congestion, white nebula in the eye, inability to raise the arm. Moxibustion: one moxa cone; Acupuncture: insert 0.1 cun.

Houxi (SI3) belongs to Wood. It is the Shu-Stream point where the Qi pours in. It treats malaria with chills and fever, red eyes with nebula, epistaxis, deafness, chest fullness, stiff neck unable to look back, epilepsy with spasm of the arm and elbow. Moxibustion: one moxa cone; Acupuncture: insert 0.1 cun.

Wanggu (SI4) is the Yuan-Source point where the Qi passes through. It treats febrile diseases without sweating, hypochondriac pain with dyspnea, neck and jaw swelling, chills and fever with tinnitus, cold tears and nebula, mania, palpitations, hemiplegia, inability to flex and extend the arm and elbow, headache and restlessness due to malaria, infantile convulsions with jerking of the five fingers. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.2 cun, retain for three breaths.

Yanggu (SI5) belongs to Fire. It is the Jing-River point where the Qi travels. It treats epilepsy with wild running, febrile diseases without sweating, hypochondriac pain, neck and jaw swelling, chills and fever, deafness and tinnitus, toothache, pain in the lateral arm and wrist preventing elevation, delirium, looking left and right, convulsions, and vertigo. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.2 cun, retain for two breaths.

Yanglao (SI6) is the Xi-Cleft point. It treats shoulder pain as if breaking, arm pain as if pulling, inability to move the arm up and down, blurred vision. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.3 cun.

Zhizheng (SI7) treats chills and fever, submandibular swelling, elbow spasm, headache, vertigo, wind-deficiency with fear and panic, mania, warts, and vertigo. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.2 cun.

Xiaohai (SI8) belongs to Earth. It is the He-Sea point where the Qi enters. Treat chills and fever, gingival swelling, wind-induced vertigo and neck pain, abscesses with chills, swelling of the elbow and axilla, hypogastric pain, inability to lift the limbs. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.2 cun.

Jianzhen (SI9) treats wind-bi, inability to raise the arm, heat and pain in the shoulder. Acupuncture: insert 0.5 cun.

Tianzong (SI11) is an intersection of the Hand and Foot Taiyang, Yang Wei, and Chong Mai. It treats chills and fever with shoulder swelling, pain radiating from the scapula, arm soreness and weakness. Acupuncture: insert 0.8 cun; Moxibustion: three moxa cones.

Bingfeng (SI12) is an intersection of the Hand Taiyang, Yangming, and Hand/Foot Shaoyang. It treats shoulder pain preventing elevation. Moxibustion: five moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.5 cun.

Qu Yuan (SI13) treats shoulder pain, generalized bi with qi stagnation, stiffness and stuffiness in the shoulder and back. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.5 cun.

Jian Wai Shu (SI14) treats shoulder blade pain, heat extending to the elbow. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.6 cun.

Jian Zhong Shu (SI15) treats chills and fever, blurred vision, cough with rising qi and hemoptysis. Acupuncture: insert 0.3 cun, retain for seven breaths; Moxibustion: ten moxa cones.

Tian Chuang (SI16) treats tinnitus and deafness, cheek swelling, throat pain, sudden aphonia, shoulder pain radiating to the neck, inability to look back. Moxibustion: three moxa cones; Acupuncture: insert 0.3 cun.

Tian Rong (SI17) treats throat bi with chills and fever, sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Acupuncture: insert 1 cun; Moxibustion: three moxa cones.

Quan Liao (SI18) is an intersection of the Hand Shaoyang and Taiyang. It treats facial deviation, red face, yellow eyes, continuous eyelid twitching, parotid swelling, and toothache. Acupuncture: insert 0.2 cun.

Ting Gong (SI19) is an intersection of the Hand/Foot Shaoyang and Taiyang. It treats deafness, sensation of blockage, buzzing in the ears, abdominal fullness, arm pain, and loss of voice. Acupuncture: insert 0.3 cun; Moxibustion: three moxa cones.

Regarding the Hand-Taiyang Meridian, it has abundant blood and scarce qi. Needling should induce bleeding to expel evil qi. Since the meridian travels from hand to head, needling against the flow is "Ying" (Meeting), and with the flow is "Sui" (Following). Excess is treated with draining, deficiency with tonifying, heat with rapid insertion/removal, cold with retention, sunken pulses with moxibustion, and neither excess nor deficiency with local selection. This is the method for treating the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian.