Ba Xie & Cancer Treatment Induced Neuropathy
Baxie (八邪, Bā Xié) points are a set of eight extra points (EX-UE9) located on the dorsum (back) of both hands. "Ba Xie" translates to "Eight Pathogens" or "Eight Evils," reflecting their strong ability to expel pathogenic factors like Wind, Heat, Dampness, and stagnation from the hands and fingers.
The points are found on the back of the hand, in the depressions proximal to the margins of the webs between the fingers, right at the junction of the red (palm) and white (dorsal) skin. There are four points per hand, one in each interdigital web (between thumb-index, index-middle, middle-ring, and ring-little fingers).
Main Actions & Indications
Baxie points are highly effective local points for hand and finger issues. Their primary functions include:
Clearing Heat and reducing swelling/redness.
Expelling Wind-Damp and activating the channels (unblocking Qi and Blood stagnation).
Relaxing the sinews, stopping pain, and relieving numbness/spasm.
Promoting circulation in the hands and fingers.
Key indications:
Hand/finger pain, swelling, redness, or stiffness (e.g., arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis).
Numbness, tingling, or neuropathy in the hands/fingers.
Spasms, contractures, or inability to make a fist (including post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome).
Acute trauma, swelling, or even snakebite on the hand.
Excess Heat signs affecting the upper body (eye pain, fever, headaches).
They are especially useful in Bi syndrome (painful obstruction) and for neuropathy protocols, often combined with points like LI4, LI11, or Baxie’s foot counterparts (Bafeng).
Baxie (EX-UE9) points are frequently used in cancer support, particularly for managing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affecting the hands.
Primary Use in Oncology Acupuncture
Baxie points serve as local/distal points to directly address hand symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain, burning sensations, and reduced dexterity — common side effects of neurotoxic chemotherapy drugs (e.g., taxanes like paclitaxel, platinum agents like oxaliplatin, or bortezomib).
They are included in many evidence-based protocols because they:
Activate Qi and Blood circulation in the hands and fingers.
Clear local Heat, reduce inflammation, and resolve stagnation.
Relax sinews, alleviate spasms, and improve nerve function.
Evidence from Studies
Multiple clinical trials and meta-analyses on CIPN incorporate Baxie alongside core points like LI4, LI11, ST36, LR3, and SP6. For example:
Protocols often use Baxie bilaterally for upper extremity neuropathy.
They are frequently paired with Bafeng (on the feet) for full hand/foot coverage.
Oncology acupuncturists value them as safe, effective additions for improving quality of life, nerve conduction, and symptom relief in cancer survivors.
Important notes:
Always performed by a licensed acupuncturist trained in oncology protocols.
Treatments are typically gentle and may include electroacupuncture for better nerve stimulation.
They complement (but do not replace) conventional medical care.