Bites · Everyday TCM · Pain & Injuries · Acupoint · 1–2 minutes
后溪 · Back Stream sits on the Small Intestine meridian, on the ulnar edge of the hand. A classic distal press when morning 落枕 locks the turn.
In brief
Hou Xi (后溪, SI3) sits on the ulnar side of the hand, in the depression proximal to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone when the fist is half closed, at the junction of the light and dark skin. For stiff neck (落枕), press the point on the hand opposite the painful side until you feel a dull soreness (酸胀), keep that pressure while rotating, and gently turn the neck left and right within comfort for one to two minutes. Stop if pain sharpens.
Point guide
Make a soft half-fist. On the little-finger (ulnar) border, find the depression just proximal to the fifth knuckle head, where light palm skin meets darker dorsal skin, behind the end of the distal palmar crease. That hollow is Hou Xi. Chinese: 简便取穴：半握拳，掌纹末端凸起后方，皮肤深浅两色交界处。
Press the hand opposite the stiff side of the neck. If the left neck locks, work Hou Xi on the right hand. Feel for a dull, tender hollow rather than hard bone alone. Chinese: 按揉健侧的后溪穴，例如左侧颈项疼痛，则按揉右侧后溪穴。
Massage with a fingertip until you feel a dull soreness (酸胀). Keep that pressure while rotating on the point for one to two minutes. Sharp shooting pain means ease off. Chinese: 以指尖按揉穴位直至有酸胀感，以相同指力持续揉动穴位。
Keep the circular press and gently turn the head left and right within a comfortable range. Do not force a full turn. Many people notice a little more range as the soft tissue eases. Chinese: 按揉穴位的同时，颈部向左右方向轻柔地来回转动。此时应可察觉颈部疼痛有所缓解，以及颈部可活动范围有所改善。
Ease off if the press feels sharp, numb, or wrong. Mild ache that eases on release is common; sharp pain is a stop signal. Trauma, fever with a stiff neck, or progressive arm weakness need urgent care, not self-press.
Try today Half-close the fist opposite the stiff neck, find Hou Xi at the little-finger border, circle to a dull ache, and gently turn the neck.
Next step
Read the matching guide or pathway next. Book when you are ready for personalised care.
Self-press tips are educational, not personal medical advice. Book a consult for stiff neck that keeps returning, or if pain travels into the arm.
FAQs
On the ulnar side of the hand, in the depression proximal to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone when the fist is half closed, at the junction of the light and dark skin. Soft-fist shortcut: behind the end of the distal palm crease on the little-finger border.
第五掌指关节近端尺侧凹陷中，皮肤深浅两色交界处。简便取穴：半握拳，掌纹末端凸起后方，皮肤深浅两色交界处。
Press Hou Xi on the hand opposite the stiff neck. Massage with a fingertip to a dull soreness, rotate for one to two minutes, and gently turn the head left and right within comfort. Do not force a full turn. Sharp pain means ease off.
The opposite hand. If the left side of the neck hurts, press Hou Xi on the right hand. Either side may still feel tender; stay with the clearer hollow.
No. Hou Xi (SI3) sits on the ulnar little-finger border. Luo Zhen (落枕穴, EX-UE8) sits on the dorsum between the second and third metacarpals. Both are distal hand presses used for stiff neck; they are different points.
SI3 is also used as a distal hand press in some lumbar self-care routines, often while you gently ease the back. For multi-point low-back habits, see the lower-back Insight and its home-press guide. Self-press is educational, not care for trauma or neurological red flags.
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