TB06 (Branch Ditch)

支溝zhī gōu

Indications

Protocols

Location

3 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting tb4 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna on the radial side of the extensor digitorum.

Cautions

No specific contraindications.

Indications

Conditions for which TB06 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Benefit Chest Benefit Chest Benefit Costal Lateral Benefit Costal Lateral Benefit Regulate Qi Benefit Voice Benefit Voice Constipation Cough Deafness Disease Febrile Disease Febrile Turmoil Disorder Turmoil Disorder Dizziness Post Partum Dizziness Post-partum Heat Face Heat Face Heat Sanjiao Heat Sanjiao Hemiplegia Hand Numbness Hand Numbness Obstruction Ren Mai Female Obstruction Ren Mai Female Oppression Chest Oppression Chest Pain Abdominal Pain Abdominal Pain Arm Pain Arm Pain Armpit Pain Armpit Pain Back Pain Back Pain Rib Pain Rib Pain Eye Pain Eye Pain Heart Pain Heart Pain Shoulder Pain Shoulder Pain Sore Throat Sore Throat Redness Facial Redness Facial Redness Regulate Qi Scrofula Channel Stagnation Channel Stagnation Stool Stagnation Stool Stagnation Spontaneous Sweating Spontaneous Sweating Swelling Bi Arthralgia Elbow Syndrome Bi / Arthralgia Elbow Syndrome Cold Wind Syndrome Cold-wind Syndrome Tetanus Tinnitus Tinnitus Heat Wind Tinnitus Heat-wind Tremor Hand Tremor Hand Voice Loss Voice Loss Vomiting

Protocols using TB06

The 50 best-sourced of 64, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

Otitis Media, Otitis Media Effusion, Ear Effusion, Ear Discharge – SI05, KD02, TB05, TB06, GB38, GB41 (doi:10.1093/ecam/neh102 ↗)
Constipation – KD06, TB06 (doi:10.1155/2012/268237 ↗)
Constipation Functional – ST25, ST36, ST37, BL25, TB06 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60100-4 ↗)
Constipation Functional, Stool Hard, Constipation Chronic, Defecation Difficulty – ST25, ST36, ST37, BL25, BL33, BL34, TB06, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1155/2015/396396 ↗)
Ischemic Stroke, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Lower Limb Weakness, Upper Limb Weakness, Disability Activities Of Daily Living – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST25, ST31, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP10, SP15, TB06, GB34, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010073 ↗)
Anxiety, Back Pain, Miscarriage Threatened, Bleeding Vaginal, Cramping Abdominal – LU07, LI11, ST36, ST37, SP01, SP04, HT07, BL20, BL23, BL57, BL62, KD06, KD09, KD21, KD27, PC06, TB04, TB05, TB06, GB30, GB34, GB41, LV02, LV03, CV04, GV04, GV20 (doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1092-8 ↗)
Obesity, Iron Deficiency, Anemia Iron Deficiency – ST27, ST40, SP03, SP14, SI03, KD02, TB06, GB41, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.4103/0366-6999.200549 ↗)
Pruritus, Dermatitis Atopic, Sleep Disturbance, Skin Eczema – LI02, LI11, ST36, ST43, SP03, SI02, SI03, BL66, PC06, TB03, TB06, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2017/1926806 ↗)
Vomiting, Nausea, Ileus Postoperative, Abdominal Bloating – LI04, ST36, ST37, SP06, PC06, TB06 (doi:10.1155/2018/3178472 ↗)
Vomiting, Nausea, Flatulence, Abdominal Pain, Abdominal Bloating, Ileus Postoperative, Abdominal Bloating, Flatulence Postoperative, Loss Of Appetite – LI04, ST36, ST37, SP06, SP09, TB06 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000013352 ↗)
Cancer Pain, Intestinal-cancer Pain – LI04, ST36, PC06, TB06, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2019/1038206 ↗)
Dyspepsia, Pruritus, Dermatitis Atopic, Skin Dryness, Skin Erythema – LI02, LI11, ST36, ST43, SP03, SI02, SI03, BL66, PC06, TB03, TB06, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2019/1907578 ↗)
Postoperative Pain, Post-Operative Nausea, Post-Operative Vomiting, Thoracic Surgery Pain – LI04, SI03, PC06, TB06 (doi:10.1111/1759-7714.13343 ↗)
Overweight, Obesity Simple, Bmi Elevated – LI04, LI11, ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST27, ST28, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, ST44, SP04, SP06, SP09, SP14, SP15, SP16, BL20, BL21, TB06, GB26, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV07, CV09, CV10, CV12, CV13 (doi:10.1155/2020/2367610 ↗)
Insomnia, Eczema, Dyspepsia, Pruritus, Dermatitis Atopic – LI02, LI11, ST36, ST43, SP03, SI02, SI03, BL66, PC06, TB03, TB06, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03306-1 ↗)
Paralysis Incomplete-spinal-cord-injury, Motor-deficit, Sensory-deficit, Activities-of-daily-living Impaired – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, HT08, SI03, SI04, BL62, TB02, TB06, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2021/5671998 ↗)
Prediabetes, Hyperglycemia Impaired Fasting Glucose, Glucose Tolerance Impaired – ST36, SP03, TB06, LV03 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000028824 ↗)
Obesity, Overweight, Waist Circumference Elevated – LI11, ST24, ST25, ST36, ST40, BL20, BL21, TB06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2022/4780019 ↗)
Anxiety, Insomnia, Herpes Zoster, Neuropathic Pain, Herpes Zoster Acute, Blisters Clustered, Rash, Rash Blister – SP09, SP10, TB06, GB34 (doi:10.1007/s00403-024-03628-3 ↗)
Neuropathic Pain, Herpes Zoster Acute, Neuralgia Postherpetic Risk, Skin Rash, Skin Blisters – SP09, SP10, TB06, GB34 (doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04599-2 ↗)
Constipation, Constipation Post-myocardial-infarction – LI04, ST25, SP06, TB06 (doi:10.34172/mejdd.2022.303 ↗)
Herpes Zoster, Acute Pain, Skin Blisters – SI03, TB06, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034920 ↗)
Herpes Zoster, Acute Pain, Skin Blisters – SI03, TB06 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034920 ↗)
Abdominal Distension, Gastrointestinal Dysfunction, Constipation Postoperative – ST25, ST36, BL20, BL21, BL23, BL25, TB06, CV04, CV06, CV12, GV01 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108309 ↗)
Postherpetic Neuralgia Pain, Neuralgia Herpes Zoster Sequela – LI11, ST36, TB06, GB20, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.13457/j.cnki.jncm.2025.19.014 ↗)
Spleen Deficiency, Obesity Simple, Spleen Deficiency Damp Obstruction, Dampness-obstruction – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP14, TB06, GB26, LV03, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.27253/d.cnki.gnjzu.2025.000776 ↗)
Herpes Zoster Acute, Skin Lesions Vesicular – SI03, TB06 (doi:10.13359/j.cnki.gzxbtcm.2011.02.007 ↗)
Urolithiasis, Renal Colic Pain, Abdomen Left Pain – KD05, TB06, GB34, LV04, LV08 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2023.05.034 ↗)
Intestinal Obstruction Postoperative Inflammatory Early – ST25, ST36, ST37, ST39, SP15, BL20, BL21, BL25, PC06, TB06, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.19613/j.cnki.1671-3141.2019.76.008 ↗)
Abdominal Pain, Abdominal Bloating, Intestinal Obstruction Adhesive – ST36, TB06 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2012.11.005 ↗)
Constipation – ST25, ST37, BL25, KD06, TB06 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2021.04.033 ↗)
Constipation Heat – LI04, ST25, ST37, SP14, BL25, KD06, TB06 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2021.04.033 ↗)
Constipation Qi Stagnation – ST25, ST37, BL25, KD06, TB06, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2021.04.033 ↗)
Constipation Cold – ST25, ST37, BL25, KD06, TB06, CV04, CV08 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2021.04.033 ↗)
Constipation Deficiency – ST25, ST37, BL20, BL25, KD06, TB06, CV04 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2021.04.033 ↗)
Constipation Dry Stool – ST25, ST37, ST39, BL25, KD06, TB06, CV04 (doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2021.04.033 ↗)
Herpes Zoster, Nerve Pain, Neuralgia Postherpetic – TB06, GB34 (doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.1443 ↗)
Constipation, Back Pain, Fracture Thoracolumbar Compression – ST25, ST36, ST37, SP15, TB06 (doi:10.3791/70174 ↗)
Hyperplasia Prostatic Benign, Urination Difficult – ST28, SP06, KD03, TB06, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190923-0001 ↗)
Constipation – LI04, ST25, ST36, ST37, SP06, SP15, BL25, TB06, CV04, CV06, XB02L1, XB02L2, XB02L3, XB02L4, XB02L5, XB02T10, XB02T11, XB02T12 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture — point group actions)
Hypochondriac Pain, Hypochondriac Pain – BL17, BL18, BL19, BL20, PC06, TB05, TB06, GB24, GB34, GB41, LV14 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture — point group actions)
Asthma, Dyspnea, Tachypnea – LU09, ST40, BL13, BL23, KD03, TB06, CV08 (Wu Fei & Hu Ling-xiang. Clinical Application of Quick Cupping onto Shenque (CV 8). Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2009, 29(4): 275-276)
Herpes Zoster, Nerve Pain – SI03, TB06 (LI Xue-wei, YANG Yun-kuan, XIE Xi-mei, BAI Lin-na, ZHANG Xiao-shu. Economic Evaluation of Treating Herpes Zoster with Various Methods of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2012, 32(1): 125-128)
Obesity Abdominal – ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 (SUN Hong. Relation between Treatment Course and Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for Female Obesity of Different Types. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(4): 258-261)
Obesity Symmetrical – ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 (SUN Hong. Relation between Treatment Course and Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for Female Obesity of Different Types. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(4): 258-261)
Constipation Functional – ST25, ST36, ST37, BL25, TB06 (Zhang C, Guo L, Guo X, Li G, Guo X. Short and long-term efficacy of combining Fuzhengliqi mixture with acupuncture in treatment of functional constipation. J Tradit Chin Med 2013; 33(1): 51-59)
Poor Appetite, Bitter Taste, Dry Mouth, Hypochondriac Right Pain, Hypochondriac Right Bloating, Anorexia Greasy Food – ST36, SP06, PC06, TB06, GB34, LV03, LV14, CV12 (Zhou Shenghong. Thirty Cases of Chronic Cholecystitis Treated by Acupuncture and Oral Administration of Da Chai Hu Tang. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(3): 173-174)
Rib Fractures, Acute Pain, Analgesia – LI04, ST36, TB06, GB34 (Analgesic Effect of Acupuncture for Patients With Rib Fractures. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03822273)
Post-stroke Depression – LU04, LI04, LI06, LI07, LI10, LI11, LI12, LI13, LI15, ST02, ST32, ST33, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP10, SP11, HT05, BL15, BL20, BL23, BL61, BL64, KD02, KD03, PC02, PC03, PC06, TB03, TB06, TB07, TB09, TB12, TB14, GB20, GB31, GB33, GB43, LV02, LV03, LV05, LV14, GV20, GV23, GV26 (Acupuncture for Ischemic Post-stroke Depression. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02472613)
Liver Qi Stagnation, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Spleen Dampness – TB06, GB34, LV13 (刘可佳姚伟伟韩超汝焦睿珉赵静洁. 基于《中华医典》的针灸治疗非酒精性脂肪性肝病的选穴规律分析. 中西医结合肝病杂志 ., 2025 [CNKI])

Other points on the Triple Burner Meridian

TB01 TB02 TB03 TB04 TB05 TB07 TB08 TB09 TB10 TB11 TB12 TB13 TB14 TB15 TB16 TB17 TB18 TB19 TB20 TB21 TB22 TB23