Large Intestine 04 (LI 4)
Pinyin Name & English Translation
Hegu, Joining (Union) Valley
Location
On the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.
Indications
Headache, pain in the neck of any part of the body, redness, swelling and pain of the eye, epistaxis, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, toothache, deafness, facial swelling, sore throat.
Traditional Action
Dispels exterior wind, releases the exterior, stimulates the dispersing function of the Lungs, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel, tonifies Qi and consolidates the exterior, harmonizes ascending and descending functions.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in pregnancy.
Large Intestine Meridian
Large Intestine Acupuncture Points:
LI 1, LI 2, LI 3, LI 4, LI 5, LI 6, LI 7, LI 8, LI 9, LI 10, LI 11, LI 12, LI 13, LI 14, LI 15, LI 16, LI 17, LI 18, LI 19, LI 20
References:
Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1989
O’Connor, John and Bensky, Dan, trans. Acupuncture, A Comprehensive Text. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1981
Xinnong, Cheng, et al. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1987.