The great ear point of Chinese medicine. Yifeng (SJ-17) opens the ear, dispels Wind, and clears the channels around the face and jaw — when hearing fades, the ear aches, or the face seizes up, this is the point to reach for first.
Contraindications
Needle angle matters here: directing the needle too far forward or too far backward can cause pain and may make it uncomfortable to open and close the mouth afterward. Keep to the stated direction — toward the opposite ear — and stay within the recommended depth.
Name & story
The name 翳风 Yifeng means "Wind Screen" — or, more poetically, "Sheltered from the Wind". The character 翳 (yì) refers to a screen or shade, something that covers and shelters; 风 (fēng) is Wind, the great mover and invader in Chinese medicine. The point sits tucked just behind the earlobe, nestled in a natural hollow between the jaw and the skull — exactly like a sheltered alcove that catches Wind before it can enter deeper. The name tells the whole story: this is where Wind hides, and where we can catch it and expel it.
Point family & character
Yifeng SJ-17 belongs to the San Jiao channel (SJ), also called the Triple Burner or Triple Warmer. It is a meeting point — a crossroads of the San Jiao and Gall Bladder channels (GB), both of which travel into and around the ear. This dual-channel meeting makes it an especially powerful local point for all ear disorders, since two channels converge their influence right here.
Five-element dynamics
The San Jiao channel is a Yang channel associated with the Fire element. It runs up the arm, over the shoulder, around the ear, and across the side of the head — a pathway naturally suited to clearing Heat, dispersing Wind, and opening the sensory organs along its route. Because both the San Jiao and Gall Bladder channels enter the ear, Yifeng SJ-17 sits at a genuine crossroads of Yang energy near one of the most delicate sensory organs. When Wind and Heat obstruct these channels — causing sudden deafness, tinnitus, or ear pain — Yifeng is the primary door through which the obstruction is released.
Location
Find it by folding the earlobe gently forward — the point reveals itself in the hollow that appears just behind and slightly below the earlobe, between the angle of the lower jaw and the hard mastoid bone behind the ear. It sits just superior to the palpable transverse process of the first cervical vertebra.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the depression between the ramus of the mandible and the mastoid process, just behind the earlobe.
Needling
Insert perpendicularly, directing the needle toward the opposite ear. Take care with the angle: if the needle is directed too far forward or too far back, it may cause pain and discomfort on opening and closing the mouth.
The golden tip
To find Yifeng SJ-17 at home: gently fold your earlobe forward with one finger and feel for the hollow that opens up just behind it, between the jaw and the hard bone behind the ear. Press firmly but gently with a fingertip — you will usually feel a distinct tenderness or fullness there. Hold for one to two minutes on each side. This is especially helpful for ear pressure, mild tinnitus, jaw tension, or the early stages of an ear blockage from a cold. A warm compress held behind the earlobe can complement the massage nicely.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.