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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.
  • Exterior Wind-Cold patterns
  • Wind-Heat attacks the Wei level and Lungs
  • Chills and fever
  • Alternating chills and fever
  • Injury by Cold with great thirst
  • Copious sweating
  • Anhidrosis
  • Febrile disease with anhidrosis
  • A floating pulse
  • Headache
  • Frontal headache
  • One-sided headache
  • Headache of the whole head
  • Hypertension
  • Throat Bi
  • Childhood throat moth
  • Pediatric sore throat
  • Mumps
  • Loss of voice
  • Swelling of the face
  • Mumps
  • Deviation of the face and mouth and eyes
  • Lockjaw
  • Lock jaw due to stroke
  • Deafness
  • Tinnitus
  • Dysenteric disorder
  • Constipation
  • Childhood nutritional impairment
  • Childhood fright Wind
  • Wind rash
  • Malaria
  • Malaria without sweating
  • Mania
  • Pain of the lumbar spine
  • Diseases of the sensory organs
  • Hemiplegia
  • Generalized pain
  • Throat blockage
  • Abortion
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Gingivitis
  • Neuralgia of the shoulder
  • Keratoleukoma
  • Cataracts
  • Cough
  • Abdominal pain
  • Infantile paralysis
  • Heat Bi
  • Otitis media
  • Bronchitis
  • Appendicitis with fever
  • Goiter
  • Furuncles
  • Collapsing syndrome
  • Glaucoma
  • Strabismus
  • Blurred vision
  • Spots before the eyes
  • Neuralgia of the head
  • Dental abscess
  • Continual epistaxis
  • Sore throat
  • White spots on the throat
  • Pain inside the spinal column and the renal region
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Redness, swelling and pain of the eyes
  • Eye membrane disorders
  • Dizziness of vision
  • Superficial visual obstruction
  • Epistaxis
  • Nasal congestion
  • Nasal discharge
  • Rhinitis
  • Sneezing
  • Toothache
  • Tooth decay and pain of the teeth in the lower jaw
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Lotus flower tongue
  • Cracked tongue
  • Rigid tongue
  • Lips do not close
  • Tightness of the lips
  • Lips flaccid
  • Amenorrhea
  • Prolonged labor
  • Delayed labor
  • Retention of dead fetus
  • Painful obstruction and atrophy disorder of the four limbs
  • Aphonia
  • Cannot talk
  • Pain of the sinews and bones
  • Pain of the arm
  • Pain of the shoulder and back
  • Contraction of the fingers
  • Common Cold
  • Facial paralysis
  • Neurasthenia
  • Tidal fevers
  • Fever after catching cold with great thirst
  • Scabies
  • Windstroke
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Styes
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Facial paralysis
  • Myopia
  • Nasosinusitis
  • Nasal polyps
  • Swelling and pain of the pharynx and larynx
  • Tonsillitis
  • Stiffness of the spinal column
  • Pain of the spine
  • Atrophy syndrome of the upper body
  • Upper Jiao wasting and thirsting syndrome
  • Qi-type painful urinary dysfunction
  • Pertussis
  • Asthma
  • Infantile diarrhea
  • Lymphangitis
  • Scrofula
  • Coma
  • Fever due to Summerheat
  • Sudden blindness
  • Tension
  • Insomnia
  • Migraine
  • Hardness of hearing
  • Facial edema
  • Ding Boil (Ding Chuang)
  • Thick coating on the tongue

KI-7
Fuliu

LI-11
Quchi

LI-11
Quchi

LI-15
Jianyu

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
Taichong

ST-44
Neiting
KI-7
Fuliu
M-HN-30
Bailao

LI-11
Quchi

GB-39
Xuanzhong ST-36
Zusanli
DU-14
Dazhui
KI-1
Yongquan

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
Tianchi
GB-1
Tongziliao
LU-10
Yuji
ST-2
Sibai
GB-9
Tianchong
UB-22
Sanjiaoshu
GB-20
Fengchi

SJ-23
Sizhukong
GB-20
Fengchi

DU-20
Baihui
DU-21
Qianding
DU-24
Shenting
DU-23
Shangxing
SJ-23
Sizhukong
GB-20
Fengchi
UB-2
Zanzhu
ST-8
Touwei

Headache

One-sided headache

Generalized headache

One-sided head Wind

ST-40
Fenglong
ST-41
Jiexi
GB-20
Fengchi

GB-14
Yangbai
ST-41
Jiexi

DU-19
Houding
DU-20
Baihui

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
Yangliao
UB-4
Quchai

GB-1
Tongziliao
GB-41
Zulingqi
UB-1
Jingming

UB-1
Jingming

GB-37
Guangming

Dizziness of vision

Internal eye obstruction

Eye diseases

UB-1
Jingming

ST-2
Sibai

KI-1
Yongquan
GB-35
Yangjiao

LU-11
Shaoshang
REN-22
Tiantu

Superficial visual obstruction

Loss of voice

Swollen, painful throat

GB-15
Toulinqi
LIV-3
Taichong

LU-3
Tianfu

UB-12
Fengmen
DU-24
Shenting
UB-2
Zanzhu
LI-20
Yingxiang
UB-67
Zhiyin
KI-20
Futonggu

Red eyes

Epistaxis

Epistaxis

Rhinitis with clear nasal discharge

GB-41
Zulinqi
UB-63
Jinmen

SJ-17
Yifeng
SJ-21
Ermen

GB-2
Tinghui
ST-6
Jiache

Deafness

Purulent ear sores

Swelling, pain and redness of the ear

LI-20
Yingxiang

LU-1
Zhongfu
PC-5
Jiaoshi

ST-6
Jiache

ST-4
Dicang
DU-26
Renzhong
REN-24
Chengjiang
GB-2
Tinghui

Itching and swelling of the face

Swelling of the face and abdomen

Deviation of the mouth and eye

PC-5
Jiaoshi

SI-3
Houxi

LU-10
Yuji
SI-7
Zhizheng
HT-3
Shaohai
LI-11
Quchi
SI-4
Wangu

ST-6
Jiache
DU-26
Renzhong
DU-20
Baihui
REN-24
Chengjiang

Sudden mania

Manic raving with fear and fright

Lockjaw following Windstroke

DU-26
Renzhong
PC-9
Zhongchong

or

DU-15
Yamen
LIV-1
Dadun

SP-6
Sanyinjiao
LIV-3
Taichong

SI-1
Shaoze
REN-17
Shanzhong

Loss of consciousness from Windstroke

Difficult delivery (reinforce LI-4 and reduce the others)

Absence of lactation

UB-25
Dachangshu
DU-20
Baihui
DU -1
Changqiang
GB-21
Jianjing
ST-30
Qichong

ST-36
Zusanli
UB-29
Zhonglushu

SP-8
Diji

Rectal prolapse

Dysenteric disorder

Acute dysmenorrhea

GB-20
Fengchi

PC-6
Neiguan

LU-7
Lieque

Common Cold

Anesthesia for various purposes

Wind-Cold Attacks the Lungs

UB-59
Fuyang

LI-15
Jianyu

 

Removes poisons and toxins from the mind and body

Acupuncture anesthesia

Acupuncture blackout

 


  • 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.