Acupuncture Point Sanjian (LI3)
Location:
Incline the palm, make a loose fist; on the radial side and at the posterior of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger, just behind the phalangeal capitulum of the 2nd
metacarpal bone, at the dorso-ventral boundary of the hand.

Function:
Clearing heat and relieving pain.

Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-first dorsal interosseous muscle-between first lumbrocal muscle and second metacarpal bone-between tendons of superficial and deep flexor muscles of index finger and first palmar interosseous muscle.

In the superficial layer, there are the dorsal digital nerve of the radial nerve and the proper palmar digital nerve of the median nerve, the dorsal venous network of the hand, the branches of the first dorsal metacarpal artery and vein and the branches of the radial artery and vein of the index finger. In the deep layer, there are the deep branches of the ulnar nerve and the muscular branches of the median nerve.

Indications:
Toothache, ophthalmalgia, sore throat, redness and swelling of fingers and the dorsum of the hand.

Prescription:
Combined use with JianshiPC5 (Jianshi (PC5) Jing-River Point) for treatment of chronic pharyngitis; with TaichongLR3 (Taichong (LR 3) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source Point) for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia; with YingxiangLI20 (Yingxiang (LI 20) for treatment of epistaxis; and with HeguLI4 (Hegu (LI 4) Yuan-Source Point) for treatment of mental stress.

Methods:
Insert the needle perpendicularly to 0.5-1 cun depth; needling response: local distension and soreness, radiating to the dorsum hand; moxibustion: using 3-5 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 15 min.