Yemen Point (TE-2 / Fluid Gate, also known as Yemen, Yemen)
Clears heat and drains fire, benefits the throat and brightens the eyes, reduces swelling and relieves pain. Based on its properties, it is mainly used for throat pain, eye disorders, deafness, toothache, and other ENT diseases, as well as shoulder-arm and palmar swelling and pain.
Indications
Sore throat, red painful eyes, and tooth decay (toothache). (1) ENT disorders: Sore throat, swollen painful gums, tongue pain, tinnitus, deafness, eyelid weakness, red eyes, visual fatigue. (2) Meridian pathway disorders: Stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, shoulder-arm pain, dorsal hand redness and swelling, finger contracture. (3) Exterior patterns: Cold with fever, cold with headache, post-cold general body pain.
Precise Location
Located on the Sanjiao Meridian, on the dorsum of the hand, between the 4th and 5th fingers, posterior to the web margin, at the junction of the red and white skin.
Location Method
Sit upright with the arm extended and elbow flexed toward the chest, palm facing down. Lightly clench the fist, gently support the palm, bend the thumb, and press vertically with the fingertip or nail tip into the point.
Massage Method
Press vertically with the fingertip or nail tip – a sore and distending sensation will occur. Apply to both sides once each morning and evening for 1–3 minutes, left first then right. Therapeutic actions: Clears the head and eyes, benefits the Sanjiao, unblocks the collaterals and relieves pain.
Compatibility
Fever: Combine with Hegu (LI-4), Yemen (TE-2), Zhongchong (PC-9), and Dazhui (GV-14). Disease overview: Fever is elevated body temperature or subjective heat sensation – classified as external (due to six excesses or epidemic pathogens) or internal (due to diet, overwork, or emotional disturbances causing yin-yang imbalance). Massage sequence: First press Hegu 30 times, push Yemen 30 times, pinch Zhongchong 20 times, then massage Dazhui for 5 minutes. Sore throat: Combine with Tiantu (RN-22), Lianquan (RN-23), Fengfu (GV-16), Hegu (LI-4), and Yemen (TE-2). Deafness: Combine with Tinggong (SI-19), Xiaguan (ST-7), Taichong (LR-3), Zhongzhu (TE-3), and Yemen (TE-2). Sore throat: Combine with Shaoshang (LU-11) and Yuji (LU-10). Toothache: Combine with Hegu (LI-4) and Jiache (ST-6). Eyelid weakness: Combine with Shenmai (BL-62). Arm redness and swelling: Combine with Zhongzhu (TE-3) and Waiguan (TE-5). Tinnitus and deafness: Combine with Tinggong (SI-19), Yifeng (TE-17), and Xiaxi (GB-43). Cold with headache: Combine with Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB-20), and Sanjian (LI-3). Wind-cold cold: Combine with Fengchi (GB-20) and Waiguan (TE-5). Toothache: Combine with Jiache (ST-6) and Hegu (LI-4).
Efficacy & Actions
Yemen belongs to the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian and is the Ying-Spring point, corresponding to the Water element in the five-element theory. It clears heat and releases the exterior, drains fire and removes toxins, harmonizes the interior and exterior, reduces swelling and relieves pain. It is a commonly used effective point for treating head, face, and orificial disorders. First documented in Lingshu · Benshu. "Ye" means the essence of water; "Men" means gate or entrance. As the Ying-Spring point of the Sanjiao Meridian – the Sanjiao is the official of drainage, where the water passages emerge – qi and fluid pass through this gateway, hence the name Yemen (Fluid Gate). It is also known as "Yemen" and "Yemen." Every mother has experienced this: young children have weak immunity and poor resistance to viral infections, making them prone to colds and fevers – especially with nasal congestion, persistent clear nasal discharge, or high fever above 40°C with red swollen throat and tonsils. In such cases, directly pressing and pinching Yemen can help improve the condition. (1) Key Point for Head, Face, and Orificial Disorders: The Sanjiao Meridian "ascends to the neck, connects behind the ear, goes straight up to the upper ear angle, and curves down to the cheek and zygomatic region." Its branch "enters the ear from behind, comes out and goes forward, passes through the zygomatic arch, crosses the cheek, and reaches the outer canthus." Thus it is widely distributed on the face, connecting with the ear, eye, and throat, and its sinew also "connects to the root of the tongue" – making it effective for throat pain, dry throat, deafness, tinnitus, red eyes, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache, and eyelid fatigue. (2) Effective Point for Colds: Colds are caused by external wind-cold or wind-heat invading the lung defense system. The Sanjiao acts as the "external defense of the zang-fu organs," governing qi transformation throughout the body, closely related to lung qi dispersion. The Neijing states: "Ying-Spring and Shu-Stream points treat external meridians." Needling Yemen clears heat, releases the exterior, and harmonizes interior and exterior – earning it the title "First Point for Colds." It is combined with Yingxiang for nasal congestion, Taiyang and Fengchi for headache, Shaoshang/Yuji/Quchi for sore throat, and Dazhui/Quchi for fever. (3) Treats Sanjiao Meridian Pathway Disorders: Used for migraine, stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, shoulder-arm pain, dorsal hand redness and swelling, and finger contracture. The Yulong Ge states: "For arm redness and swelling with wrist pain, Yemen is the point." It is also the "neck pain point" in balance acupuncture therapy – deep needling toward Zhongzhu (TE-3) enhances efficacy.
