Location
Behind the ear, midway between fengchi gb-20 & yifeng sj-17, close but slightly posterior & inferior to the wangu gb-12.
No specific contraindications.
Indications
Conditions for which XH16 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
AgitationCalm Spirit ShenDizzinessEpilepsyHigh Blood PressureInsomniaPacify LiverHeadachePalpitationsRestlessnessTinnitus
Protocols using XH16
- Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss Sensorineural, Sudden Hearing Loss – SI19, KD03, TB03, TB05, TB17, GB02, LV03, XH16 (doi:10.2196/69163 ↗)
- Insomnia – SP06, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH16 (doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102292 ↗)
- Fatigue, Fatigue Cancer-related, Fatigue Cancer Related – SP06, LV03, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.1007/s00520-026-10756-1 ↗)
- Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic – LI04, SP06, HT07, BL62, KD06, PC06, LV03, GV20, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1835295 ↗)
- Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic – SP06, HT07, BL62, KD06, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH16 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1855633 ↗)
- Insomnia, Insomnia Primary – XH16 (doi:10.1177/19336586251414801 ↗)
- Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic – HT07, PC06, GV20, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220815-0003 ↗)
- Insomnia, Insomnia Perimenopausal – BL23, KD03, GV20, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220909-k0001 ↗)
- Depression, Insomnia – LU07, LI04, BL15, BL19, BL23, KD06, LV03, GV20, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230822-k0001 ↗)
- Anxiety, Depression, Allergic Rhinitis, Rhinitis Allergic Persistent – LI20, HT07, PC07, GV20, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH03, XH09, XH16 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230959 ↗)
- Fatigue, Insomnia Chronic, Depression Mild – SP06, HT07, KD06, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240407-k0002 ↗)
- Fatigue, Insomnia Chronic, Depression Mild – ST25, SP06, HT07, KD06, CV04, CV08, CV12, GV02, GV14, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240407-k0002 ↗)
- Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic – SP06, HT07, BL62, KD06, GV20, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.11.005 ↗)
- Fatigue, Depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – LU09, LI04, SP06, HT07, PC06, GB20, GV20, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.1016/j.explore.2025.103231 ↗)
- Withdrawal Insomnia, Addiction Methamphetamine, Withdrawal Depression, Withdrawal Anxiety – ST36, SP06, HT07, PC06, GV20, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000043508 ↗)
- Insomnia Chronic – BL62, KD06, GV20, XH16 (doi:10.2147/NSS.S521578 ↗)
- Insomnia – CV06, CV10, CV12, GV20, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250816-k0002 ↗)
- Dysgeusia, Fatigue Cancer-related – LI02, LI04, SP06, LV03, XH03, XH12, XH13, XH16 (doi:10.1007/s00520-026-10756-1 ↗)
- Cancer Breast, Insomnia Chemotherapy-related – BL15, BL18, BL23, GB25, LV14, CV14, GV20, XH03, XH16 (doi:10.2147/NSS.S604964 ↗)
- Menopause, Insomnia Menopausal – SP06, HT07, BL15, BL23, BL62, KD06, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH16 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.180390 ↗)
- Menopause, Insomnia Menopausal – SP06, HT07, BL15, BL23, BL62, KD06, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH16, CYC11, IAC03, IN01, TF10 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.180390 ↗)
- Insomnia – SP06, HT07, KD06, GB13, GB20, GB21, XH16 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture – point group actions)
- Insomnia, Not Communicating Heart, Not Communicating Kidney, Not Communicating Heart, Not Communicating Kidney – SP06, HT07, BL15, BL23, KD03, XH16 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
- Spleen Qi Deficiency, Insomnia, Heart Qi Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency, Heart Qi Deficiency – SP01, SP06, HT07, BL15, BL20, XH16 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
- Fire Liver, Insomnia, Fire Liver – SP06, HT07, BL18, BL19, GB12, XH16 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
- Insomnia, Stomach Problems, Stomach Problems – ST36, SP06, HT07, BL21, XH16 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
Most often selected alongside XH16
How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with XH16. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.
- SP06Three Yin Intersection17 protocols
- HT07Spirit Gate16 protocols
- GV20100 Convergences14 protocols
- KD06Shining Sea10 protocols
- XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall9 protocols
- XH01AFour Spirit Brightness8 protocols
- XH01BFour Spirit Brightness8 protocols
- XH01CFour Spirit Brightness8 protocols
- XH01DFour Spirit Brightness8 protocols
- BL15Heart Shu Point6 protocols
- BL23Kidney Shu Point6 protocols
- BL62Extending Vessel6 protocols
