A quiet point on the side of the head, tucked behind the ear. Luxi (SJ-19) calms the mind, eases ear pain and headache, and gently settles the restless, over-heated Shen — especially in children.
Name & story
The name 颅息 Luxi is made of two characters: 颅 (lú) means "skull" or "cranium", and 息 (xī) means "to rest", "to breathe quietly", or "to calm down". Together the name paints a simple picture — a point where the head comes to rest, where noise and agitation in the skull settle into stillness. It sits right at the side of the skull, behind the ear, and its name already tells you what it does: it brings quiet to a restless, overheated head.
Point family & character
Luxi (SJ-19) belongs to the San Jiao channel (SJ), the channel that governs the movement of Qi, fluids and Heat through the three regions of the body. It travels up the back of the arm, over the shoulder, around the ear and up to the head — which is why so many San Jiao points are powerful for ear and head conditions.
Five-element dynamics
The San Jiao channel belongs to the Fire element — specifically the Minister Fire, which governs warmth, movement and transformation. When that Fire rises too strongly to the head — stirring up Heat, Wind or rebellious Qi — the head and ears suffer: pain, ringing, inflammation and restlessness. Luxi, sitting right at the skull, helps settle that uprising, clearing Heat and Wind from the head and restoring a calmer flow.
Location
Find the mastoid region just behind the ear. Luxi (SJ-19) lies within the hairline, on a curved line that connects SJ-18 (Chimai) below and SJ-20 (Jiaosun) above — it sits at the junction of the middle and lower thirds of that curved line behind the ear, roughly in the middle between those two points.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the side of the head, in the region of the temporal bone, within the hair, over the auricularis superior and temporalis muscles.
Needling
The needle is inserted horizontally (flat, under the skin), following the curve of the skull.
Safe depth
0.3–0.5 Cun, horizontally.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle massage around the ear and the point area can help relieve local pain and tension. Moxa is generally avoided on the head, and especially at this point when there is Heat present.
Functions
Clears Heat and Wind from the head; Benefits the ear; Relieves headache and pain; Calms the Shen; Reduces swelling and inflammation in the ear region.
Indications
Headache, especially in the temporal and lateral regions of the head. Ear pain, ear inflammation, tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Swelling behind the ear. Infantile convulsions and restlessness in children. Vomiting in children. General restlessness and agitation.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
Luxi has a particular gentleness in the way it touches the Shen. When Heat rises to the head — from stress, fever or inner agitation — the mind cannot rest: there is noise in the ears, pain in the skull, and a child or adult who cannot settle. By clearing that Heat and Wind from the head, the point helps the Shen find quiet again. Classical texts especially note its value for children whose nervous system is easily overwhelmed — the restless, feverish, crying child who cannot be soothed.
Point combinations
With SJ-17 (Yifeng) and SJ-21 (Ermen) — for ear pain, inflammation and tinnitus. With GB-20 (Fengchi) — for headache and Wind-Heat rising to the head.
Clinical spotlight
What makes Luxi (SJ-19) stand out in classical texts is its repeated mention for children — particularly for infantile convulsions, restlessness and vomiting. This gives it a special place among head points: not just a local point for pain, but a point that calms an agitated nervous system, especially in the young. Its position on the San Jiao channel — the channel of Minister Fire — makes it a natural choice whenever Fire or Heat rebels upward to disturb the ear and the skull.
The golden tip
If you have a headache on the side of the head, or your ears feel blocked and painful, you can find Luxi behind the ear, within the hairline. Use gentle circular pressure with a fingertip for one to two minutes on each side. It is also a point worth knowing if a child is restless and feverish — a light, calm touch in this area can have a noticeably settling effect.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.