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Acupoint YinTang – Location, Practical Uses, and Benefits

What is Yintang?

Yintang (EX-HN3) is used on a daily basis clinically, as it provides a sense of calmness and stress relief for a majority of patients. It is easily accessible, and can provide a good lead-in for the treatment.

Yin in Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to the softer side of life, more relaxed. It is also known as the third-eye chakra in the Hindu tradition.1

It is in the category of “extra points”.

Yintang Acupuncture Point Location

Center midline between the eyebrows. The point is needled obliquely, and deep insertion is contraindicated.

yintang acupuncture point location
yintang acupuncture point location. Photo credit: https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1268

TCM Functions: (Giovanni)2

  • Extinguish Wind
  • Calms the Mind

Biomed Functions:

  • Relaxation
  • Facial pain
  • Headache

Research on Yintang (EX-HN3)

A 2018 review in the journal of Medical Acupuncture looked at the current research associated with the effectiveness of Yintang for anxiety. The researchers concluded that the self-reported measure of anxiety reduction was almost consistently positive.3 The authors also noted that this point could be used easily even by a doctor or a nurse who is not familiar with TCM because its location can be found easily, and can be stimulated easily using an acupuncture sticker or hand.4

In a study of 52 patients published in the European Society of Anaesthesiology, researchers concluded that the use of Yintang (EX-HN3) can reduce preoperative anxiety in surgical patients.5

  1. Kwon, C. Y., & Lee, B. (2018). Acupuncture or Acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for Anxiety: A Preliminary Review. Medical acupuncture, 30(2), 73–79. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1268 ↩︎
  2. Maciocia, G. (2005). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists (2nd ed.). Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. pp. 1101-1102 ↩︎
  3. Kwon, C. Y., & Lee, B. (2018). Acupuncture or Acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for Anxiety: A Preliminary Review. Medical acupuncture, 30(2), 73–79. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1268 ↩︎
  4. Kwon, C. Y., & Lee, B. (2018). Acupuncture or Acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for Anxiety: A Preliminary Review. Medical acupuncture, 30(2), 73–79. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1268 ↩︎
  5. Acar, H. V.; Cuvas, O.; Ceyhan, A.; Dikmen, B.. Acupuncture on Yintang point decreases preoperative anxiety: 1AP6-7. European Journal of Anaesthesiology 28():p 22, June 2011. ↩︎
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