Ear Apex

耳尖Ěr Jiān

Anatomical location

At the apex of the auricle, folding the ear forward.

Same point as CP10 · Ěr Jiān — Curious Points catalog

Main function

Disperses Wind-Heat, calms the Shen, benefits the eyes and the throat.

Therapeutic indications

Acute conjunctivitis
stye
fever
hypertension
sore throat

Name and classical tradition

Erjian, 耳尖, is the "tip of the ear," a name that is an instruction: 耳, ear; 尖, tip. To find it, fold the auricle forward and the point lies at the apex of the fold.

The Zhenjiu Dacheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) lists it this way: "耳尖二穴，在耳尖上，捲耳取尖上是穴，治眼生翳膜，用尖艾炷五壯". The ear is folded, the tip is taken, and it is used for films of the eye with five pointed moxa cones. Today it is bled more often than it is treated with moxa, but the location is the same as the one the Ming text describes.

Location of point EX-HN6, Ear Apex — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-HN6 on the anatomy

Needling techniqueBleeding with a lancet (1-2 drops) or superficial needling.

Depth0.1-0.2 cun

MoxibustionNot applicable.

PrecautionsNone in particular.

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.