Yang Valley (SI-5) Pressure Point: Benefits & Technique

The Yang Valley pressure point (SI-5) is a Small Intestine meridian point on the ulnar (pinky-side) wrist crease that may help with wrist pain, neck/submandibular swelling, and tinnitus when stimulated with steady, firm finger pressure for 1–3 minutes.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), SI-5 is called Yanggu (“Yang Valley”). It’s also described as the Jing-River and Fire point of the Small Intestine (Hand Taiyang) channel, traditionally used to “move channel qi,” clear heat, and reduce swelling along the Taiyang pathway (hand–arm–neck–jaw–ear).

Summary Table

Attribute	Details
Pressure Point Name	SI-5 – Yang Valley (Yanggu)
Body Area	Body
Exact Location	Ulnar side of the dorsal wrist crease, in the depression between the ulnar styloid and the triquetral bone
Common Uses	Wrist pain, neck/submandibular swelling, tinnitus (ear ringing)
Stimulation Technique	Firm thumb or finger pressure, 1–3 minutes
Contraindications	Avoid during pregnancy without clinician guidance; use caution with ulnar-nerve sensitivity or neuropathy

Clinical Significance & Associated Conditions

Clinically, SI-5 is most often considered a local and channel-based point. In TCM terms, it is used when symptoms track the Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) channel, especially around the wrist and up toward the jaw/ear/neck.

Common presentation patterns where SI-5 may be considered include:

• Musculoskeletal / pain
  • Ulnar-sided wrist pain, stiffness, or strain patterns
  • Hand and forearm discomfort along the Small Intestine channel pathway
• Head/neck swelling and tension patterns
  • Neck or submandibular swelling (TCM: heat or damp-heat obstructing the channel)
  • Jaw tension or “locked” feeling (TCM descriptions include trismus/lockjaw patterns)
• Ear-related symptoms
  • Tinnitus or subjective ear fullness (TCM: channel heat, obstruction, or Shen disturbance patterns)

From a modern anatomy lens, SI-5 sits near the ulnar styloid region and the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve. That proximity is one reason I recommend firm-but-controlled pressure rather than aggressive digging, especially for people who are nerve-sensitive.

Location

The Yang Valley pressure point is on the pinky-side of the wrist, at the outer end of the dorsal wrist crease (the crease on the back of the wrist).

How to find SI-5 (simple landmark method):

1. Turn your palm down so you’re looking at the back of the wrist.
2. Locate the bony bump on the pinky side of your wrist (the ulnar styloid area).
3. Slide your fingertip slightly toward the center of the wrist until you feel a small hollow/depression at the wrist crease, between the ulnar bone landmark and the small wrist bones.
4. SI-5 is typically right in that depression—tenderness or a dull ache with pressure is common.

Practical positioning cues (no special measuring needed):

• It’s on the ulnar (pinky) side, not the thumb side.
• It’s at the wrist joint line, not up the forearm.
• If you press and feel a sharp, zinging nerve sensation, lighten pressure and adjust slightly.

How to Stimulate It

Use a standard acupressure technique: steady, perpendicular pressure into the depression.

Step-by-step technique (thumb or fingertip):

1. Support your forearm on a table or your thigh so the wrist is relaxed.
2. Place your thumb (or index finger) on SI-5.
3. Press straight in with firm, comfortable pressure—aim for a “good ache,” warmth, or mild heaviness.
4. Hold for 1–3 minutes, breathing slowly.
5. Release gradually, then repeat on the other wrist if relevant.

Pressure level guidance

• Start at 3–5/10 intensity and increase only if it stays comfortable.
• Avoid “digging” into bone. This point is close to bony structures and superficial nerve branches.

Frequency

• Acute wrist discomfort: 1–2 times daily for a few days, as tolerated
• Tinnitus or neck swelling patterns: once daily for 1–2 weeks, reassessing response

Helpful pairing approach

• For wrist and hand tension, SI-5 is commonly combined with nearby Small Intestine points such as Wrist Bone (SI-4) Pressure Point or Front Valley (SI-2) Pressure Point to support the channel pathway.

Benefits and Common Uses

SI-5 is traditionally described as a point that activates the channel, reduces swelling, and clears heat along the Small Intestine meridian. In practical acupressure use, people most often choose it for the following.

1) Wrist pain and ulnar-sided wrist tension

• May help reduce local sensitivity and protective muscle guarding around the wrist joint
• Often used when discomfort is felt on the pinky-side of the wrist

If wrist pain is more on the thumb-side, you may also compare with Yang Stream (LI-5) Pressure Point as a different local wrist strategy.

2) Neck/submandibular swelling patterns (TCM channel approach)

• In TCM, swelling near the jaw/neck can reflect heat, damp-heat, or stagnation in the Taiyang channel pathway
• SI-5 is classically listed for neck swelling and jaw-related tightness patterns

3) Tinnitus (ear ringing) and ear fullness sensations

• TCM texts associate SI-5 with ear symptoms (tinnitus/deafness patterns), often framed as channel heat or obstruction
• In self-care, it’s typically used as part of a broader plan (sleep, stress regulation, neck/jaw tension reduction, and professional evaluation when needed)

4) Heat/agitation patterns (TCM: Fire point, Shen involvement)

• As a Fire point on a channel that internally connects with the Heart system in TCM theory, SI-5 is sometimes selected for agitation or “heat disturbing the Shen” presentations
• For many people, this is subtle and best used under practitioner guidance rather than as a stand-alone strategy

Physiological Functions & Mechanisms

Direct modern research specific to SI-5 is currently limited, and I avoid overstating point-specific effects. Still, there are plausible, evidence-consistent mechanisms that may explain why acupressure at this site can feel helpful:

• Local neuromodulation: Pressure stimulation may influence superficial sensory nerve signaling near the ulnar side of the wrist, potentially changing pain perception through segmental input.
• Myofascial and circulatory effects: Sustained pressure can increase local tissue tolerance and may support microcirculation and relaxation of protective muscle tone around the wrist.
• Autonomic downshifting (general acupressure effect): Slow breathing plus steady pressure often promotes a calmer autonomic state, which can matter when symptoms (including tinnitus perception) worsen with stress.

In TCM terms, these effects are often described as:

• Regulating qi and blood in the channel
• Clearing heat and reducing localized swelling
• Calming the Shen when heat/agitation is part of the pattern

Yang Valley pressure point in TCM: why SI-5 is used

The Yang Valley pressure point is the Jing-River point of the Small Intestine channel. In classical theory, Jing-River points are frequently chosen for:

• Channel pain and dysfunction near joints (especially wrist/ankle regions)
• “Heat” patterns manifesting along the channel pathway

Because SI-5 is also the Fire (Horary) point, traditional Five Phase theory sometimes applies it with a “reducing” intention when excess/heat signs are present (for example: swelling, redness, irritability, or a hot, tense feeling along the channel). In self-acupressure, that translates to steady, non-aggressive pressure rather than stimulation that ramps the system up.

Practitioner Insight (first-person allowed here only)

When SI-5 is going to help, I most often see it in very specific, trackable patterns: ulnar-sided wrist discomfort with a clear tender hollow at the wrist crease, or jaw/neck tension patterns that feel “tight and hot” rather than purely weak or fatigued. If the point produces a sharp nerve zing, I treat that as a cue to back off pressure and reposition slightly, because gentler contact tends to work better here.

Safety & Contraindications

Use acupressure as supportive care, not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment.

Avoid or use extra caution with SI-5 if:

• Pregnancy: avoid using acupressure therapeutically without guidance from a licensed clinician.
• Neuropathy or nerve sensitivity: diabetes-related neuropathy, ulnar nerve irritation, or unexplained numbness/tingling—use very light pressure or skip.
• Recent injury: suspected fracture, significant sprain, or rapidly increasing swelling at the wrist—seek medical evaluation first.
• Skin issues: infection, open wounds, or dermatitis at the site.

When to get checked urgently

• Sudden hearing changes, one-sided tinnitus with neurological symptoms, severe dizziness, or signs of infection/swelling in the neck should be assessed promptly by a healthcare professional.

For broader guidance, see our acupressure safety guide and browse more techniques in acupressure. As always, listen to your body and stop if discomfort arises.

Related Points & Techniques

SI-5 is commonly used as part of a small cluster of wrist and channel points rather than alone.

Complementary pressure points (internal library links):

• Wrist Bone (SI-4) Pressure Point – often paired for wrist and hand channel pain
• Front Valley (SI-2) Pressure Point – supports Small Intestine channel clearing and pain patterns
• Yang Stream (LI-5) Pressure Point – alternative local wrist point (different meridian)
• Veering Passageway (LI-6) Pressure Point – commonly used for upper-limb channel regulation and fluid/“damp” patterns in TCM frameworks

Adjunct techniques that pair well

• Slow nasal breathing (60–90 seconds) while holding SI-5 to reduce guarding and improve tolerance
• Gentle wrist circles after stimulation (pain-free range only)
• Warm compress for 5–10 minutes if the wrist feels stiff (avoid heat if there is acute inflammation or significant swelling)

Scientific Perspective

At this time, there appears to be no strong, point-specific clinical trial evidence indexed in major biomedical databases focusing exclusively on SI-5. That doesn’t mean the point is ineffective; it means modern research hasn’t isolated SI-5 as a single variable in a way that’s easy to generalize.

What we can say from a scientific standpoint:

• Broader research suggests acupressure may help with pain and symptom modulation in certain conditions, likely via neuromodulatory and autonomic mechanisms. For an overview of how acupressure is discussed in integrative health contexts, see the NIH’s overview of complementary and integrative health approaches (via descriptive guidance from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health).
• For readers who want to explore the research landscape directly, searching the PubMed database of biomedical studies for “acupressure pain” or “acupressure tinnitus” provides a clearer picture of where evidence is stronger versus still emerging.
• Global standards and point location frameworks are discussed in resources aligned with World Health Organization acupuncture point location standardization, which helps ensure consistent anatomical descriptions across education and clinical settings.

In practice, I recommend treating SI-5 as a low-risk, anatomy-informed self-care option for appropriate cases (especially wrist discomfort), while using standard medical evaluation for persistent, severe, or progressive symptoms.