LI 10 — Shǒu Sān Lǐ (手三里) — Arm Three Li
LI 10 (Shou San Li, “Arm Three Li”) is one of the most commonly used points on the arm. Located 2 cun distal to LI 11 (Qu Chi), it is the principal local point for tennis elbow and lateral elbow pain, and is also widely used for digestive disorders and as a general tonification point on the upper limb.
On this page
1. About LI 10 (Shou San Li)
LI 10 — Shǒu Sān Lǐ — is on the Large Intestine meridian. The name parallels its more famous leg counterpart ST 36 (Zu San Li). It is one of the most clinically important points on the forearm and is used in almost every shoulder, elbow and arm protocol.
2. LI 10 location
2 cun distal to LI 11 (at the lateral end of the elbow crease when the arm is flexed), on the line between LI 11 and LI 5, on the radial side of the forearm.
3. Actions
- Unblocks the channel and alleviates pain
- Regulates Qi and Blood in the arm
- Tonifies Qi (secondary action)
- Harmonises the Stomach and Intestines
4. Indications
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) — the principal point
- Pain, weakness or paralysis of the upper limb
- Frozen shoulder
- Hemiplegia of the arm after stroke
- Abdominal pain, diarrhoea and digestive disorders (the “San Li” digestive aspect)
- Toothache
5. Needling
Perpendicular insertion 1.0–2.0 cun. Strong De Qi often radiates down the forearm and into the hand.
6. Clinical notes
LI 10 is the local point of choice for tennis elbow, where it is typically combined with LI 11 (Qu Chi), LI 4 (He Gu) and the Ashi tender points. For arm pain it is the workhorse of the Large Intestine channel. The digestive function paralleling ST 36 makes it useful as an adjunct in digestive complaints, particularly when arm and digestive symptoms coexist.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I use LI 10 in tailored acupuncture prescriptions for tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, RSI and post-stroke arm rehabilitation. I see patients at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire.
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