POINT: LI-4 (LARGE INTESTINE-4)
| English: | Joining Valley |
| Also Known As: | Adjoining Valleys Meeting of the Valleys Joining of the Valleys Tiger's Mouth Closing Valley Harmonious Valleys Grain Valley |
- On the dorsum of the hand, between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone and close to the radial border.
Ask the patient to squeeze the thumb against the index finger, and locate the point at the highest point of the bulge of the muscle and approximately level with the end of the crease.
Place in coincident position the transverse crease of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb with the margin of the web between the thumb and the index finger of the other hand. The point is where the tip of the thumb touches. - With the thumb and index finger extended and stretched apart, this point can be found slightly to the index finger side of the area between the first and second metacarpal bones.
- Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun
Sensation of local discomfort and soreness - Oblique insertion directed proximally 1 to 1.5 cun
- Slanted insertion along the surface of the second metacarpal, 1 to 1.5 cun for diseases affecting the head
Sensation of soreness, possibly extending to the elbow or shoulder - Join to PC-8 or SI-3 for muscle spasm or paralysis of the fingers.
- Moxibustion is applicable
- Yuan -Source point of the Large Intestine channel
- Gan Wu Command point
- Ma Dan-Yang Heavenly Star point
- Ma Wang Tang Twelve-Star point
- Center Reunion General Point for Yang
- Regulates the Defensive (Wei) Qi (consolidates the Exterior)
- Adjusts sweating
- Reduces fever
- Tonifies Qi
- Facilitates Qi flow
- Expels Wind (Cold, Heat and Dryness)
- Releases the Exterior
- Clears Summerheat
- Stimulates the dispersing function of the Lungs
- Harmonizes ascending and descending
- Regulates the face eyes, nose, mouth and ears
- Activates the channel
- Alleviates pain
- Induces labor
- Restores Yang
- Clears Heat and Fire
- Moistens Dryness
- Transforms Damp-heat
- Transforms Phlegm, Phlegm-Damp, Cold Phlegm and Dry Phlegm
- Generates fluids
- Relieves Stagnation in the Intestines.
- Activates Intestinal function.
- Inhibits peristalsis of the Stomach, relaxes its spasms and pyloric sphincter.
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KI-7 |
LI-11 |
|
No sweating (reinforce LI-4, reduce KI-7) Copious sweating (reduce LI-4, reinforce KI-7) |
High fever of any etiology Diseases of the head, face, mouth, nose, eyes and ears Unilateral Wind rash |
Pain, paralysis or atrophy of the upper limbs |
LIV-3 |
LI-11 |
|
Cold and Heat with painful obstruction Nasal polyps Nasal congestion and discharge Unendurable pain of the arm that radiates to the shoulder and spine |
Injury by Cold with anhidrosis (reinforce LI-4 and reduce ST-44 and KI-7) Injury by Cold with sweating (reduce LI-4 and ST-44 and reinforce KI-7) |
Injury by Cold with great Heat that does not recede |
PC-1 |
DU-20 |
|
Headache |
One-sided headache Generalized headache |
One-sided head Wind |
Head Wind and dizziness |
Head Wind with splitting headache and pain in the eye and between the eyebrows |
Pain of the head and nape |
SI-6 |
GB-1 |
|
Dizziness of vision |
Internal eye obstruction |
Eye diseases |
Superficial visual obstruction |
Loss of voice |
Swollen, painful throat |
LU-3 |
UB-12 |
|
Red eyes Epistaxis |
Epistaxis |
Rhinitis with clear nasal discharge |
Deafness |
Purulent ear sores |
Swelling, pain and redness of the ear |
LI-20 |
ST-6 |
|
Itching and swelling of the face |
Swelling of the face and abdomen |
Deviation of the mouth and eye |
LU-10 |
ST-6 |
|
Sudden mania |
Manic raving with fear and fright |
Lockjaw following Windstroke |
DU-26 or |
SP-6 |
|
Loss of consciousness from Windstroke |
Difficult delivery (reinforce LI-4 and reduce the others) |
Absence of lactation |
UB-25 |
ST-36 |
SP-8 |
Rectal prolapse |
Dysenteric disorder |
Acute dysmenorrhea |
GB-20 |
PC-6 |
LU-7 |
Common Cold |
Anesthesia for various purposes |
Wind-Cold Attacks the Lungs |
UB-59 |
LI-15 |
|
Removes poisons and toxins from the mind and body |
Acupuncture anesthesia Acupuncture blackout |
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- Both acupuncture and moxibustion on this point are contraindicated during pregnancy.
- This is one of the best known and most commonly used acupuncture points.
- This is the most commonly used point for analgesia.
- It is the main point to release the Exterior and expel Wind-Heat.
- this point causes peripheral dilation.
- This point is used for heroin addiction. It is called the opium point.
- This point affects the thyroid.
- It is used for first aid for earache, poisoning, dull pain and acupuncture blackout.
- The combination of LI-4 Hegu and UB-59 Fuyang is known as the Great eliminator especially for mental disorders.
- Eventually bring calmness to the body/mind.
- It is an important revival point.
- It is a Greater Assembly point for the throat and neck.
- This is "the" point for all facial symptoms.
- It has a very powerful force of elimination of toxins, bad thoughts, feces and poisons.