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  • Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture
    Upper 3
    • Cardiovascular / Circulatory / Blood Musculoskeletal / Neurologic

Upper 3

Location
Upper 3 follows the Lung Taiyin Channel and is located 2 cun proximal to the transverse crease of the wrist, 1 centimeter internal to the border of the radius, or between the border of the radius and the radial artery.
Indications

Upper Body Conditions in Region 3

  • Head - lateral: pain of the superficial temporal artery, migraines [b], temporomandibular disorders [b], facial paralysis [b], mumps [a]
  • Torso - lateral: frozen shoulder (with pain along the anterior-lateral aspect) [b], pain in the lateral chest wall (along the anterior border of the axilla)
  • Other: hypertension [b], training injuries with pain in the upper body of Region 3 [b]
Techniques

WAA Upper

Insert the needle at a 5 to 30-degree angle and slowly push the needle forward subcutaneously for 1.5 cun towards the elbow, parallel to the arm.

If the problem is distal to the point (for example, on the hand or fingers), insert the needle in the opposite direction towards the wrist. In this case, move the insertion point away from the wrist slightly so there's sufficient room to push the needle forward without hurting the joint.


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Remarks
Upper 3 is seldom used clinically.

References for WAA point indications

*Point indication references:

  • Zhang, X. (1991). Wrist and Ankle Acupuncture Therapy (H., Jin, & W., Qiao, Trans.). Journal of Chinese Medicine, 37, 5-14.
  • [a] 张心曙, 凌昌全, 周庆辉 (2002). 实用腕踝针疗法. 人民卫生出版社.
  • [b] 凌昌全，周庆辉，顾伟 (2017). 腕踝针. 上海科学技术出版社.