Where is Wai Guan (TE5) located?

Wai Guan (TE5) is located on the dorsal (outer) side of the forearm, 2 cun (about two and a half finger-widths) above the wrist crease, between the radius and ulna bones. To find it: turn your hand palm-down, measure two thumb-widths up from the wrist crease on the outer forearm — the point sits in the groove between the two forearm bones. It is directly opposite Nei Guan (PC6) on the inner forearm.

What is the difference between Wai Guan and Nei Guan?

Wai Guan (TE5, Outer Pass) and Nei Guan (PC6, Inner Pass) are directly opposite each other on the forearm — Wai Guan is on the outer (dorsal) side, Nei Guan on the inner (palm) side. Wai Guan primarily treats exterior conditions (wind-heat, fever, headaches) and upper limb pain. Nei Guan primarily treats interior conditions (nausea, chest pain, anxiety, palpitations). They are often used together — one needle on each side of the forearm — to create a powerful combined effect.

Wai Guan (外关 TE5): Outer Pass — TCM's Key Point for External Pathogens and Upper Limb Pain

What Is Wai Guan (TE5)?

Wai Guan (外关), the “Outer Pass,” is the Luo-connecting point of the Triple Burner (San Jiao) meridian, located on the outer forearm. It is one of the most frequently used acupoints in clinical practice for expelling exterior pathogens, treating upper limb pain, and relieving migraines.

The name “Wai Guan” (Outer Pass) reflects its position on the outer (dorsal) side of the forearm, in contrast to its partner point Nei Guan (PC6, Inner Pass) on the inner side. Together, these “two passes” form one of TCM’s most important point pairs.

Location and How to Find It

Standard Location

Detail	Information
Meridian	Triple Burner (San Jiao Jing)
Point number	TE5 / SJ5
Classification	Luo-connecting point (络穴)
Location	2 cun above the dorsal wrist crease, between radius and ulna

Finding the Point

Turn your hand palm-down
Find the wrist crease on the back of the hand
Measure 2 cun (about 2.5 finger-widths) upward
The point sits in the groove between the two forearm bones
Press firmly — a sore, aching sensation confirms the location
It is directly opposite Nei Guan (PC6) on the palm side

TCM Functions

Primary Actions

Expels wind and releases the exterior (疏风解表) — treats wind-heat and wind-cold
Clears heat (清热) — reduces fever and inflammation
Moves Qi and unblocks meridians (行气通络) — treats pain and stagnation
Subdues Yang and calms the Liver (平肝潜阳) — treats migraines
Benefits the upper limb (通利上肢) — treats arm, wrist, and finger conditions

As a Luo-Connecting Point

The Luo-connecting points connect paired meridians. Wai Guan connects:

Triple Burner (Shao Yang) ↔ Pericardium (Jue Yin)
This connection links the exterior (Triple Burner) with the interior (Pericardium)
Allows Wai Guan to treat conditions in both meridians

Clinical Applications

1. Exterior Wind-Heat and Wind-Cold

Common cold with fever — especially wind-heat type
Sore throat — red, swollen, painful
Headache — especially temporal headache
Combined with Feng Chi (GB20), He Gu (LI4), Da Zhui (GV14)

2. Migraine and Temporal Headache

One-sided throbbing headache
Pain at the temples (Shao Yang region)
Often combined with Feng Chi (GB20), Tai Yang (EX-HN5)
The Triple Burner meridian passes through the temporal region

3. Upper Limb Pain

Wrist pain — carpal tunnel, sprain
Finger pain and numbness — especially the ring and pinky fingers
Forearm pain and stiffness
Elbow pain — combined with Qu Chi (LI11)
Shoulder pain — combined with Jian Liao (TE14)

4. Tinnitus and Ear Disorders

Ringing in the ears — especially sudden onset
Ear fullness or blockage
The Triple Burner meridian passes through the ear region
Combined with Ting Hui (GB2), Yi Feng (TE17)

5. Fever and Heat Conditions

Fever from exterior wind-heat
Febrile disease with sweating that doesn’t resolve the fever
Combined with Qu Chi (LI11), Da Zhui (GV14)

Wai Guan + Nei Guan: The Two Passes

The combination of Wai Guan (TE5) and Nei Guan (PC6) is one of TCM’s most important point pairs:

Feature	Wai Guan (TE5, Outer)	Nei Guan (PC6, Inner)
Meridian	Triple Burner	Pericardium
Primary focus	Exterior conditions	Interior conditions
Treats	Wind-heat, fever, migraine	Nausea, chest pain, anxiety
Best for	Upper limb, ear, temporal	Heart, stomach, emotional

Together they: Bridge the exterior and interior, treating conditions that span both levels — such as a cold with fever AND nausea, or a headache with chest tightness.

Acupressure Self-Care

Basic Technique

Turn the forearm palm-down
Use the opposite thumb to press Wai Guan
Firm pressure into the groove between the bones
Small circular motions or steady pressure
2-3 minutes per side, 2-3 times daily

For Specific Conditions

Condition	Method	Duration
Cold/flu prevention	Moderate pressure, both sides	2 min each, 3x daily
Migraine onset	Firm pressure, side of headache	3-5 min
Wrist/finger pain	Direct pressure + wrist circles	3 min as needed
Ear ringing	Moderate pressure + ear massage	2 min each side
Fever support	Brisk circular motion	3 min, both sides

Key Point Combinations

Combination	Purpose
Wai Guan + Nei Guan (PC6)	Exterior-interior balance, nausea + fever
Wai Guan + He Gu (LI4)	Clear wind-heat, treat colds and fever
Wai Guan + Feng Chi (GB20)	Migraine and temporal headache
Wai Guan + Qu Chi (LI11)	Heat clearing, immunity, skin conditions
Wai Guan + Jian Liao (TE14)	Shoulder and upper arm pain
Wai Guan + Lie Que (LU7)	Expectorant pair, respiratory conditions

Cautions

Situation	Guidance
Pregnancy	Generally safe but consult practitioner
Forearm injury	Avoid direct pressure on acute injuries
Thin forearms	Reduce pressure depth

Key Takeaways

Wai Guan (TE5) is the Triple Burner’s Luo-connecting point on the outer forearm
Primary point for expelling exterior wind-heat — colds, fever, sore throat
Effective for migraines (temporal/Shao Yang headaches)
Treats upper limb pain — wrist, fingers, forearm, elbow
The Wai Guan + Nei Guan pair bridges exterior and interior conditions
Located 2 cun above the wrist crease, opposite Nei Guan (PC6)

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Acupuncture requires a licensed practitioner. Self-acupressure is generally safe for mild conditions.