TB06 Zhigou (Branch Ditch)

Location

3 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna on the radial side of the extensor digitorum.

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.

Protocols using TB06

The 50 best-sourced of 66, 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, Obesity Abdominal, 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 ↗)
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Hyperplasia Prostatic Benign, Urination Difficult – ST28, SP06, KD03, TB06, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190923-0001 ↗)
• Postoperative Pain – LI04, SI03, PC06, TB06 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000047325 ↗)
• 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)

Most often selected alongside TB06

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with TB06. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• ST36Leg Three Miles32 protocols
• ST25Celestial Pivot27 protocols
• LV03Great Surge20 protocols
• ST37Upper Great Hollow20 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley19 protocols
• BL25Large Intestine Shu Point18 protocols
• CV04Original Qi Gate17 protocols
• CV12Stomach Centre17 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection16 protocols
• GB34Yang Mound Spring15 protocols
• LI11Pond At The Bend15 protocols
• PC06Inner Gate14 protocols

Other points on the Triple Burner Meridian