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  • Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture
    Upper 5
    • Musculoskeletal / Neurologic
    Waiguan (TH 5)

Upper 5

Location
Upper 5 follows the San Jiao Shaoyang Channel and is located 2 cun proximal to the transverse crease of the wrist, in the center of the dorsal side of the forearm, between the radius and ulna. Ask the patient to keep the palm downward, and then locate this point midway between the two bones.
Indications

Upper Body Conditions in Region 5

Includes diseases on the dorsal side of the head, neck, shoulders, and upper limbs:

  • Head - dorsal: posterior-temporal headache, dizziness, vertigo, fainting [a]
  • Neck & chest - dorsal: posterior neck pain, stiff neck [b], shoulder pain, scapula discomfort [b], neck-shoulder syndrome [b], cervical spondylosis [b]
  • Upper limbs - dorsal: sensory disturbances of the upper limbs (for example, numbness and sensitivity), motor disturbances of the upper limbs (for example, paralysis and tremors), elbow pain [b], wrist pain, pain in the back of hand [a], finger pain
  • Other: common cold, training injuries with pain in the upper body of Region 5 [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 5 is a frequently used point in treatment.

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.