SI11 Tianzong (Heavenly Gathering)

天宗tiān zōngTianzong

Small Intestine Meridian

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Location of acupuncture point SI11 Tianzong (Heavenly Gathering)
23
Indications
53
Protocols
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Location

On the scapula in the depression of the center of the subscapular fossa and at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra.

Cautions

Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

Indications

Conditions for which SI11 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Breast AbscessAngina Microvascular Cardiac SyndromeCoughChest FullnessCostal Lateral FullnessUnable to Raise ArmArm Reach Behind StiffnessElbow Raising StiffnessImmobility Arm RaisingImmobility Arm Reach BehindImmobility Elbow RaisingLactation DeficiencyPainArm PainElbow PainShoulder Blade PainShoulder PainHeaviness Shoulder SensationChannel StagnationQi StagnationBreast SwellingCheek SwellingSubmandibular Swelling

TCM actions

What classical sources say SI11 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit BreastsUnbind ChestUnbind Costal Lateral

Protocols using SI11

The 50 best-sourced of 53, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Limited Movement – SI11, TB02, TB03, GB34 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60082-0 ↗)
  • Headache, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Neck Stiffness – LI11, LI15, ST36, ST40, SI11, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, TB05, GB20, GB34, LV03, CV12, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60025-8 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Tinnitus, Headache, Vomiting, Nausea – LI18, SI11, SI14, GB20, GB21, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60079-0 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Stroke Sequela – LI15, SI11, SI12, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1155/2013/504686 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck – SI03, SI04, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, BL65, TB14, TB15, TB16, TB17, GB21 (doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010410 ↗)
  • Upper Limb Pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Hand Swelling, Loss Of Function Upper Limb, Cold Sensation Hand – LU02, LI05, HT01, SI10, SI11, GB21 (doi:10.1016/j.jams.2014.03.004 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Limitation Of Movement Shoulder, Night Pain, Impingement Syndrome Supraspinatus, Rotator Cuff Tear Partial – LU01, LU03, LU04, LU11, LI14, LI15, LI16, ST38, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Cervical Pain, Adhesive Capsulitis, Limitation Of Movement Shoulder, Night Pain, Radiating To Fingers Pain, Calcified Tendinitis – LU01, LU03, LU04, LU11, LI14, LI15, LI16, ST38, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Cervical Spondylosis, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Leg Weakness, Stiffness Neck – SI11, BL10, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.3233/THC-228048 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Cervical Spondylosis, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Leg Weakness, Stiffness Neck – SI03, SI11, BL10, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.3233/THC-228048 ↗)
  • Breast Pain, Mastalgia Cyclic, Breast Pain Premenstrual, Mammary Gland Hyperplasia – LI04, ST15, ST18, SP06, SI11, BL17, BL18, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03779-8 ↗)
  • Lymphedema Upper-limb, Edema Arm, Post-mastectomy Swelling, Breast-cancer Complication – LU05, LI11, LI14, SI09, SI11, BL13, BL20, BL23, PC06, TB05, GB21, CV17, GV14 (doi:10.1177/15347354231172735 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Disability Neck, Spondylosis Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy, Calcification Nuchal Ligament – LI04, LI10, LI11, SI11, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210531 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Spondylosis Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Calcification Nuchal Ligament – LI04, LI10, LI11, SI11, TB05, GB21 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210531 ↗)
  • Paralysis Upper Limb, Cerebral Palsy, Spasticity, Cerebral Palsy Spastic Hemiplegic, Hand Problems, Arm Problems, Upper Limb Weakness, Spastic Hemiplegia – LI03, LI04, LI05, LI10, LI11, LI13, LI14, LI15, SI03, SI05, SI09, SI11, PC06, TB04, TB05, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1177/2515690X251317438 ↗)
  • Shoulder Blade Pain, Headache Occipital, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Cervical Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical, Scapular Pain – SI04, SI11, SI15, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039483 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, GB21 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Tinnitus, Headache, Dysmenorrhea, Insomnia, Neck Pain, Premenstrual Syndrome, Eye Twitching – SI11, SI12, SI13, BL54, BL60, TB17, TB18, TB19, TB20, GB30, GB34, LV04 (doi:10.12998/wjcc.v13.i21.103200 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Chronic Pain, Shoulder Rotator Cuff Pain, Shoulder Problems, Rotator Cuff Disease – LI15, LI16, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, TB14 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000046638 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck, Limited Range Of Motion Neck – SI11 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.01.002 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Cervical Pain, Muscle Contracture – LI04, SI03, SI06, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15, BL60, GB19, GB20, GB21, GB34, GV20 (doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Cervical Spine Pain, Whiplash Injury – SI11, SI13, SI14, SI15, TB14, GB20, GB21, GV16 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2020.23.4.262 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical, Upper Limb Numbness, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy – LU07, LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, SI03, SI09, SI11, SI14, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21, GV14, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.19288/j.cnki.issn.1000-2723.2019.05.009 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder, Limited Range Of Motion Shoulder, Periarthritis Shoulder – LI11, LI14, LI15, SI03, SI09, SI11, TB05, TB14, GB34 (doi:10.27258/d.cnki.gnxyc.2025.000483 ↗)
  • Frozen Shoulder, Shoulder Pain, Limited Range Of Motion Shoulder – LI14, LI15, SI09, SI11, TB14, GB21, GV14 (doi:10.13729/j.issn.1671-7813.z20170533 ↗)
  • Breast Hyperplasia – LI04, ST15, ST18, ST36, SI11, GB21, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.16040/j.cnki.cn15-1101.2017.10.121 ↗)
  • Paralysis Upper Limb, Post-stroke, Subluxation Shoulder – HT01, SI11, TB15 (doi:10.13729/j.issn.1671-7813.2016.11.38 ↗)
  • Chemotherapy Side Effects, Breast Cancer, Cancer-related Fatigue – LI04, LI11, ST15, ST36, SP06, SI11, BL02, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL23, PC06, TB17, GB21, GB34, LV03, CV04, CV12, CV17, GV01, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.16368/j.issn.1674-8999.2016.01.005 ↗)
  • Breast Pain, Hyperplasia Mammary Glands, Distending Pain Breast, Breast Masses – LI04, ST15, ST18, ST36, SP06, SI11, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, TB05, GB21, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60047-7 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Injury Rotator Cuff – LI14, LI15, SI09, SI11, TB14, XU12 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain – LI15, SI09, SI11, SI14, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.3390/healthcare13131482 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Injury Rotator Cuff – LI14, LI15, SI09, SI11, TB14 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Rotator Cuff Pain – LU01, LU03, LU04, LU11, LI14, LI15, LI16, ST38, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗)
  • Disability Neck, Radiculopathy Cervical, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy – LI04, LI10, LI11, SI11, TB05, GB21, XB02C3, XB02C4, XB02C5, XB02C6, XB02C7 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210531 ↗)
  • Neck Chronic Pain, Spondylosis Cervical – SI11, BL10, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.3233/THC-228048 ↗)
  • Neck Chronic Pain, Spondylosis Cervical – SI03, SI11, BL10, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.3233/THC-228048 ↗)
  • Lymphedema Upper Limb, Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema – LU05, LI11, LI14, SI09, SI11, BL13, BL20, BL23, PC06, TB05, GB21, GV14 (doi:10.1177/15347354231172735 ↗)
  • Paralysis Upper Limb, Cerebral Palsy Spastic Hemiplegic – LI03, LI04, LI05, LI10, LI11, LI13, LI14, LI15, SI03, SI05, SI09, SI11, PC06, TB04, TB05, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1177/2515690X251317438 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical – SI04, SI11, SI15, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039483 ↗)
  • Spasticity Upper Limb, Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LI15, SI09, SI11, SI13, GV14, GV20, XB02T1, XB02T2, XB02T3, XB02T4, XB02T5, XB02T6, XB02T7, XB02T8 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190505-0006 ↗)
  • Headache, Tinnitus Chronic, Neck Pain – SI11, SI12, SI13, BL54, BL60, TB17, TB18, TB19, TB20, GB30, GB34, LV04, XB02C3, XB02C4, XB02C5, XB02T3, XB02T4, XB02T5 (doi:10.12998/wjcc.v13.i21.103200 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Myofascial Pain, Posture Forward – LU07, LI10, LI16, SI03, SI11, SI14, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB03, TB15, GB12, GB20, GB21, GV14 (doi:10.47176/mjiri.37.34 ↗)
  • Fatigue Cancer-related – LU07, SP04, SI03, SI11, BL18, BL20, BL62, KD06, PC06, TB05, GB41, GV01, GV04, GV14 (doi:10.3389/fonc.2025.1518278 ↗)
  • Arthritis Rheumatoid – SI11, BL18, BL23, BL40, BL54, KD03, GV08, GV09, GV12, GV14 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.01.011 ↗)
  • Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Qi Stagnation – LI17, LI18, ST09, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST25, ST26, ST27, SP13, SP18, HT03, HT04, SI11, BL14, BL16, BL18, BL31, KD21, XB02T9 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
  • Lung Qi Deficiency, Lung Qi Deficiency – LU01, LU02, LU09, LI20, ST14, ST15, ST36, SI11, BL13, BL42, XB02T6 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
  • Hemiplegia, Finger Pain, Shoulder Pain, Wrist Pain, Shoulder-hand Syndrome – LI03, LI10, LI15, SI03, SI11, SI15, TB03, TB05, TB14 (Li N, Tian F, Wang C, Yu P, Zhou X, Wen Q, Qiao X, Huang L. Therapeutic effect of acupuncture and massage for shoulder-hand syndrome in hemiplegia patients: a clinical two-center randomized controlled trial. J Tradit Chin Med 2012; 32(3): 343-346)
  • Neck Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical, Upper Extremity Numbness – LI04, LI10, LI13, SI03, SI08, SI11, TB05, TB09, TB13, GB20, GB21, GV14 (陈建辉周友龙王东阳张琼刘华. 陈氏颈三穴针刺为主联合颈部推拿正脊、艾灸治疗神经根型颈椎病的研究. 中医研究 ., 2025 [CNKI])
  • Neck Pain, Upper Extremity Numbness, Cervical Radiculopathy – LU07, LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, SI03, SI09, SI11, SI14, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21, GV14, GV16, GV20 (李具宝高焕焕池细绿何瑞建韦佳佳李骥征杨晨旭周柏健马献伟王鼎彭文潘侯刚蒯永丽韦佳佳高焕焕张伟强. 近10年文献中针灸治疗神经根型颈椎病的选穴规律探讨. , [CNKI])

Most often selected alongside SI11

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with SI11. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

  • GB21Shoulder Well31 protocols
  • LI15Shoulder And Clavicle20 protocols
  • SI09True Shoulder19 protocols
  • TB05Outer Gate16 protocols
  • GB20Wind Pool15 protocols
  • LI04Junction Valley14 protocols
  • TB14Shoulder Bone Hole14 protocols
  • LI11Pond At The Bend13 protocols
  • SI03Back Stream13 protocols
  • GV14Great Vertebra12 protocols
  • LI14Upper Arm Prominence12 protocols
  • SI14Outer Shoulder Point12 protocols