The quiet guardian of the shoulder blade. Quyuan (SI-13) sits tucked in a small hollow at the top of the scapula and is one of the most focused points for releasing tension, stiffness and pain in the shoulder and upper back — especially the kind that builds up from cold, overwork or long hours at a desk.
Contraindications
Quyuan (SI-13) is a safe local point. Keep to the recommended depth to avoid inserting too deeply into the chest region above the lung.
Name & story
The name 曲垣 Quyuan means "Crooked Wall" or "Curved Enclosure". Picture a small walled garden with a gently curved boundary — that is the image the point's name conjures. The scapular spine forms a curved, wall-like ridge, and this point nestles just above it, in a natural hollow that feels like a sheltered corner behind that wall. The name is quietly descriptive: find the curved bony ridge, tuck behind it, and there is Quyuan.
Point family & character
Quyuan (SI-13) belongs to the Small Intestine Meridian (SI). It does not hold a classical elemental or command category, but it is a local and regional point of considerable importance for the scapular region, sitting in company with several other Small Intestine points that collectively govern the shoulder blade area.
Location
Find the medial end of the scapular spine — the bony ridge across the back of the shoulder blade. Quyuan (SI-13) lies just above that medial end, in the depression of the supraspinous fossa. It sits roughly midway between the spinous process of T2 and the medial end of the scapular spine.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the supraspinous fossa of the scapula, in the trapezius muscle and the underlying supraspinatus muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly or at a slight oblique angle, directed toward the supraspinous fossa.
Safe depth
0.5–1 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa suits this point well, especially when the pain is worse in cold and damp weather or feels deeply stiff and achy — the warmth helps to scatter Cold and move stagnant Qi and Blood (Xue) in the local area. Cupping and Tui Na massage over the supraspinous fossa are traditional companions. Moist heat packs at home can extend the effect of treatment.
Functions
Removes obstructions from the channel and relieves pain; Disperses Cold and Wind from the local area; Relaxes the sinews and eases stiffness; Moves Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis in the shoulder and upper back.
The golden tip
If you carry tension across the top of your shoulder blade — that deep, stubborn ache between the blade and the spine — ask a partner to apply firm thumb pressure just above the inner end of the bony ridge across your shoulder blade. Hold the pressure gently for one to two minutes on each side. Warmth helps too: a heat pack over the upper back, especially after exposure to cold, can work alongside this point's action.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.