Small Intestine Meridian
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SI-18
Safety Warnings
- Moxibustion contraindicated
Needle Depth
0.3–0.5 cun
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular), 45° (Oblique), 10-15° (Transverse)
Body Area
Face — Cheek
Location
Directly below the outer canthus, in the depression on the lower border of zygoma.
Main Actions
- Expels Wind
- Clears Heat and resolves swelling
Indications
Red face
Face pain
Facial tic
Lip abscess
Eye deviation
Swollen cheek
Mouth deviation
Facial paralysis
Eyelids twitching
Trigeminal neuralgia
Commentary
The typical manifestation of Wind in the face is deviation of eye and mouth, twitching of eyelids, facial paralysis and tic or trigeminal neuralgia. Quanliao SI-18 is mostly used to expel Wind there.
In additional to that, it also clears Heat and resolves swelling. Therefore, it treats facial pain, cheek swelling, abscess of lid and red face.
Classical Sources
《针灸甲乙经》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion): "Facial swelling, lip abscess—Quanliao governs these. Red and yellow eyes—Quanliao governs these."
《铜人腧穴针灸图经》 Tóngrén Shùxué Zhēnjiǔ Tújīng (Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points on the Bronze Figure): "Treats deviation of the mouth, red face and yellow eyes, incessant twitching of the eyelids, facial swelling, and toothache."
《循经考穴编》 Xúnjīng Kǎoxué Biān: "Infantile convulsions with wind, deviation of the mouth and eye with twitching, facial swelling, and toothache."
How to Locate
Draw an imaginary vertical line from the outer canthus of the eye to the lower border of the zygomatic bone. Quanliao SI-18 is located in a depression on the anterior border of the masseter muscle, approximately on the level of the lateral border of the ala nasi.
Caution
Apply pressure after needling to prevent bruising due to the rich vascular network in the face (facial transverse artery and vein branches). Moxibustion is contraindicated according to classical texts including the Illustrated Supplement to the Classic of Categories. Take care with transverse needling to avoid damaging the facial nerve branches.
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular) / 45° (Oblique) / 10-15° (Transverse)
Depth Category
Shallow
Standard Depth
0.3–0.5 cun
Needling Directions
0.3–0.5 cun vertically or 1–1.5 cun transversely in the direction of Wangu ST-4, Zhizheng ST-7 and Yingxiang LI-20.
Expected Deqi Sensation
Local distension and soreness around the cheek and zygomatic area. With deeper insertion, a sensation like electric shock may radiate across the entire cheek region, particularly when treating trigeminal neuralgia.
Moxibustion
Contraindicated
Duration: N/A
Cupping
Contraindicated
Bloodletting
Questionable
Gua Sha
Questionable
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