The shoulder's wind-chasing point. Bingfeng (SI-12) sits right at the top of the shoulder blade and is the go-to point when the shoulder and arm ache, feel stiff, or simply refuse to lift — especially when Wind has crept into the area.
Contraindications
Bingfeng SI-12 is a safe local point for general use. Standard clean needle technique and appropriate depth apply, as with any point in this region.
Name & story
The name 秉风 Bingfeng means "Grasping the Wind" or "Holding the Wind". 秉 (bǐng) carries the sense of holding, seizing, or taking charge of something, and 风 (fēng) is Wind — the great mover and invader in Chinese medicine. The name tells a small story: this point sits at the very top of the shoulder blade, a place where Wind loves to settle and stir up trouble. By grasping it there, the point takes Wind by the collar, so to speak, and stops it from going deeper. A classical source even notes that when the pores do not close properly and Wind easily enters, Bingfeng SI-12 is the point to reach for.
Point family & character
Bingfeng SI-12 belongs to the Small Intestine Meridian (SI). It is a meeting point — a point where several channels converge — shared by the Small Intestine Meridian (SI), Large Intestine Meridian (LI), Triple Burner Meridian (TB), and Stomach Meridian (ST). This crossing of four Yang channels at one spot gives the point a broader reach over the shoulder region than its position alone would suggest.
Five-element dynamics
The Small Intestine Meridian (SI) belongs to the Fire element and runs from the hand up through the shoulder to the face. The shoulder, for this channel, is not just an anatomical stop — it is a major crossroads, and Bingfeng SI-12 sits right at that crossroads in the suprascapular fossa. As a meeting point of four Yang meridians, it channels the combined Yang energy of the upper body toward freeing movement and expelling what does not belong there — particularly Wind, which stiffens, restricts, and blocks.
Location
Find the spine of the shoulder blade (scapular spine). Bingfeng SI-12 sits directly above the midpoint of that spine, in the hollow of the supraspinous fossa. When you press in the right spot, there is usually a distinct tenderness. It lies directly above Tianzong SI-11.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, in the supraspinatus muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly, or slightly obliquely. A spreading or radiating sensation into the shoulder and arm is commonly felt and is a good sign.
Safe depth
Perpendicular insertion 0.5–1 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxibustion and warming methods suit this point well, particularly when Wind-Cold has settled in the shoulder and the area feels stiff and achy in cold weather. Cupping over the suprascapular region is a popular complement. Tui Na massage and Gua Sha along the shoulder blade are also widely used alongside needling for local shoulder disorders.
Functions
Expels Wind and disperses Cold; Opens and frees the channels and collaterals of the shoulder. Relieves pain and restores movement to the shoulder and arm. Stops cough due to Wind invasion when the pores are open and pathogen enters easily.
Indications
Pain, stiffness, or numbness in the shoulder and scapular region. Inability to raise the arm — the shoulder simply will not lift, or lifting causes sharp pain. Soreness and aching that radiate from the shoulder down the arm. Cough with stubborn Phlegm when Wind pathogen has entered through open pores (a broader action noted in the Ming dynasty classic Investigation into Points Along the Channels).
Point combinations
With Yunmen LU-2 — for pain of the shoulder with inability to raise the arm (cited in Supplementing Life). With Tianrong SI-17 — also for shoulder pain with inability to raise the arm (cited in the Systematic Classic). These classical pairings highlight the point's chief clinical role: freeing a locked or painful shoulder.
Clinical spotlight
Bingfeng SI-12 is a focused, local specialist — its fame rests almost entirely on the shoulder. What makes it interesting is its status as a meeting point of four Yang meridians, which concentrates considerable Yang energy in a small hollow above the scapular spine. Clinically it is most valued for the painful, immobile shoulder — the kind that will not lift, that aches at night, or that stiffened after exposure to cold and Wind. A charming footnote from the Ming dynasty reminds us that the point also has a systemic Wind-expelling action: when the body's defensive surface is weak and Wind sneaks in, Bingfeng SI-12 can help catch and expel it — reflected perfectly in its name, "Grasping the Wind".
The golden tip
If your shoulder feels stiff, achy, or hard to lift — especially after sitting in a draught or in cold weather — try finding the hollow just above the middle of your shoulder blade spine. Press gently but firmly with a fingertip or thumb for one to two minutes on each side. Applying a warm pack or a heat pad over the upper shoulder blade area after pressing can add to the relief, particularly in cold-type shoulder pain.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.