 Chinese Name:
Hegu (English translation: Joining Valley)
Location:
On the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and
2nd metacarpal bones, in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial
side.
Classification:
Yuan-Source point of the Large Intestine Meridian
Command Point of the head and face
Indications:
- Diseases of the head and face: i.e. external
pathogenic headache and bodyache, dizziness, congestion, swelling and pain
of the eye, nasosinusitis, epistaxis (nosebleed), toothache in the lower
jaw, trismus (lockjaw), deafness, mumps, swelling of the face, facial
paralysis, facial tic, swelling of the pharnyx and aphonia (inability to
speak).
- Aversion to cold, fever, febrile disease,
anhidrosis (no sweating), hidrosis.
- Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, dystocia
(difficult or abnormal labor/childbirth).
- Gastric pain, abdominal pain, constipation,
diarrhea, dysentery.
- Hemiplegia, finger spasm, pain in the arm,
infantile convulsion, manic psychosis and irritability.
- Malignant sore, urticaria, scabies.
- Every type pf pain and psychogenic tense.
- Use in conjunction with LIV 3 (the Four
Gates) to strongly move the qi and blood in the body in order to remove
stagnation and alleviate pain.
Functions:
Expels Wind and releases the exterior,
tonifies qi and strengthens immunity, stops pain, regulates the face and head
area, induces labor.
Notes:
LI 4 is a very common and useful point. It is
useful for any condition related to the face and head. It's also particularly
useful for Wind-Heat conditions (flu). Finally, LI 4 is known as the pain
point in the body. Anywhere there is pain, use LI 4.
Clinically, Yuan-Source points are of great
significance in treating diseases of the internal organs. Yuan-Source points are
the sites where the Yuan (Primary) qi of the Zang-Fu organs passes and stays. Puncturing the
Yuan-Source points stimulates the vital energy of the regular meridians,
regulates the functional activities of the internal organs, reinforces
antipathogenic factors and eliminates pathogenic factors. This method of
treating diseases deals principally with the root causes. The Yuan (source)
point from the affected meridian is often combined with the Luo (Connecting)
point of the internally-externally related meridians in use.
Needling:
Perpendicular insertion .5 - 1.0 cun.
 Do not needle
during pregnancy. |
