A hidden gem on the upper arm, Naohui (SJ-13) clears Phlegm, moves stagnant Qi and opens the channel — making it a quiet but effective point for swellings in the neck, pain in the shoulder and arm, and conditions where Phlegm and Qi Stagnation have settled in.
Name & story
The name 臑会 Naohui means roughly "Meeting at the Upper Arm" — 臑 (nao) refers to the fleshy upper arm, and 会 (hui) means a meeting or gathering place. It is a place where channels converge on the arm, a kind of crossroads. And crossroads, in Chinese medicine, are powerful: where pathways meet, Qi can be directed, blockages can be cleared, and what has gathered and stagnated can be dispersed.
Point family & character
Naohui (SJ-13) belongs to the San Jiao channel (SJ). It is also a meeting point with the Yang Linking vessel (Yang Wei Mai), which gives it a broader reach than a simple channel point — through the Yang Linking vessel it can influence multiple Yang meridians of the body.
Five-element dynamics
The San Jiao is the great distributor of Qi and fluids through the three burners of the body. When that distribution falters, Phlegm and stagnation can collect — in the neck, in the lymph nodes, in the arm. Naohui (SJ-13) sits at the meeting of the San Jiao channel and the Yang Linking vessel, and this double influence gives it an unusual ability to regulate Qi, transform Phlegm and clear what has accumulated where it should not be.
Location
On the posterior surface of the upper arm, 3 Cun directly below Jianliao (SJ-14), at the posterior border of the deltoid muscle. In practice, the sources advise palpating the area to find the most tender spot, as the two landmarks do not always coincide exactly.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the region of the triceps muscle — between the long and lateral heads of the triceps brachii — on the posterior aspect of the upper arm.
Needling
Perpendicular or oblique insertion.
Safe depth
1–2 Cun.
Functions
Regulates Qi and transforms Phlegm; Activates the San Jiao channel and alleviates pain; Disperses accumulations and scrofula.
Indications
Goitre and scrofula (swollen lymph nodes in the neck); chills and fever; eye diseases; epilepsy and madness. Weakness and pain of the shoulder and arm; swelling of the shoulder that radiates pain to the scapula; inability to raise the arm.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
Through its ability to transform Phlegm and regulate Qi, Naohui (SJ-13) can touch the mind indirectly — Phlegm in Chinese medicine is one of the classic causes of mental cloudiness, confusion and even epilepsy. When Phlegm mists the Shen, the mind loses its clarity and calm. By clearing what has accumulated and restoring the free flow of Qi through the channel, the point helps return a degree of mental lucidity.
Point combinations
With neighbouring points such as Tianjing (SJ-10) and Jianliao (SJ-14) for shoulder and arm pain and inability to raise the arm. With points on the Large Intestine Meridian (LI) — such as Binao (LI-14) and Jianyu (LI-15) — for scrofula and goitre, as several points in this region of the upper arm share this indication.
Clinical spotlight
What makes Naohui (SJ-13) stand out is the company it keeps: Deadman notes that it shares the indication for scrofula and goitre with several nearby points — Tianfu (LU-3), Shouwuli (LI-13), Binao (LI-14), Jianyu (LI-15) and Tianjing (SJ-10). This cluster of upper-arm points, all effective for Phlegm accumulations in the neck, reflects an old understanding that the arm channels pass through or connect with the neck and throat region. In the case of Naohui (SJ-13), this ability derives partly from the pathways of both the San Jiao channel and the Yang Linking vessel, both of which traverse the neck and shoulder.
The golden tip
If you experience tension or aching in the upper arm or shoulder, you can try pressing gently on the back of the upper arm, roughly in the area between the two heads of the triceps, about 3 Cun below the tip of the shoulder. Hold firm pressure for 1–2 minutes. This is not a point to needle at home, but gentle massage of the area can help ease local tension.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.