Kidney 3 (KID-3) | Balance Method Needling Demo

Needling demo
Written By Dr Tan Balance Method

Stop chasing the pain in the lower back and start looking at the ankles. KID-3 (Kidney 3) provides instant relief for structural issues from the wrist to the back.

KID-3 is your gateway to treating chronic, deep-seated pain that refuses to respond to standard protocols. Connecting to six different channels, this powerful Balance Method point requires deep needling to reach where the problem actually lives.

In this 11-second demo, you'll see the exact ankle location, deep needling angle and depth for structural pain, and why the ASS principle is critical for chronic cases.


Quick Stats

  • Video Duration: 13 seconds

  • Key Conditions: Lower back pain, foot pain, chronic ankle pain, wrist pain, throat tension

  • Alternative Names: Taixi, Great Mountain Stream

Balance Method KID-3 Logic

Look, here's the thing: we aren't just "tonifying" here. In the Dr. Tan Balance Method, we use KID-3 because the Kidney channel mirrors the San Jiao and Lung channels perfectly. By needling the ankle, you are effectively "flipping the switch" for the opposite wrist or the lower back. It's about structural integrity and meridian balancing, pure and simple.

KID-3 Treatment Applications (Systems 1-6)

This point is a heavy hitter as it balances not 4, not 5, but 6 meridians in total!

(Every KID pairing and depth protocol is ready for you in The Balance Method Notebook—grab it here for instant access.)

  • System 1: Heart (HT)

    • Treats: Opposite wrist pain, upper arm pain (direction armpit)

  • System 2: San Jiao (SJ)

    • Treats: Either wrist, shoulder

  • System 3: Urinary Bladder (UB)

    • Treats: Opposite ankle, lower back, neck

  • System 4: Large Intestine (LI)

    • Treats: Either wrist, shoulder, throat

  • System 5: Pericardium (PC)

    • Treats: Opposite wrist, arm pain

  • System 6: Kidney (Kid)

    • Treats: Either ankle, deep lower back pain, lower belly

Balance Method KID-3 Protocol

I get it—going deep can feel intimidating at first. But once you see KID-3 release chronic lower back pain in seconds, you'll never second-guess the depth again.

Here's how you nail the "Deep" technique shown in the video.

Location

Find the medial side of the ankle. It's in the depression between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon.

Which Side

Depends on the system you are using.

Depth (ASS)

This is crucial. Match the depth to the pain.

  • For deep back pain, go deep (as seen in the video).

  • For surface-level skin or tendon pain, stay shallow.

Retention

Always leave the needles for 45 minutes.

Immediate Check

Have the patient move their wrist/back immediately. No change? Your depth is off.

Caption: Illustration of deep needling - anatomical reference

 

What You'll See (Expected Results)

  • Immediate Results: A "release" in the lower back or a significant drop in wrist pain intensity within seconds.

  • 1-3 Sessions: Acute pain should stabilize or disappear.

  • 4-7 Sessions: The timeframe for resolving chronic, deep-seated structural pain.

Watch Out For (Safety & Mistakes)

  • Going too shallow for chronic pain: If you're treating deep back pain, a superficial needle won't cut it. You need to reach the depth of the symptom.

  • The Achilles Tendon: Don't needle into the tendon itself; stay in the soft hollow space if no tendon is affected. If the tendon is affected, target the tendon on the Kidney side!

  • Common Mistake: Forgetting that KID-3 mirrors the wrist or not matching the ASS.

Want More?

Full Balance Method Notebook: All KID pairings, depth protocols, and system variations
Get The Balance Method Notebook →


Full in-depth explanation of deep needling for KID points in The Balance Method Notebook: Stop searching, start treating: Your go-to Balance Method resource

Watch: The Full KID-3 Needling Demo here
Watch on YouTube →

Watch: Needling Dr. Tan’s GB 34 (perfect for tendon issues)

New to Balance Method? Learn the fundamentals in our complete guide or find training courses from Dr. Tan's direct students.

Have you used KID-3 for chronic lower back pain yet? Tell me about your results in the comments!

Published: March 02, 2026 | Watch Time: 13 sec | Level: All Practitioners

Tags: Balance Method, Kidney 3, KID-3, Taixi, Lower Back Pain, Wrist Pain, Deep Needling, Dr. Tan, ASS Principle, Chronic Pain

 
Dr Tan Balance Method https://www.drtanbalancemethod.com
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