Lecture 1. The Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin(LU)

1. Traveling route
a) The meridian starts from the middle jiao (energizer), the portion between the diaphragm and the umbilicus of the body activity, and runs downward to connect with the large intestine. Then it ascends along the upper orifice of the stomach and crosses the diaphragm before pertaining to the Lung.
b) It exits the Lung system (point Zhongfu, LU l) and runs down along the medial Side of the upper arm and the front of the Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin and the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin. Then it goes through the cubital fossa and enters cunkou (on the wrist over the radial artery where pulse is felt) along the anterior border of medial side of the forearm. It continues to run along the thenar eminence and the thenar border and arrives at the medial Side of the thumb tip (point Shaoshang, LU 11).
c) A branch starts from Lieque (LU 7) and runs along the radial side to the tip of the index finger.

2. Symptoms:
Cough, asthma, shortness of breath, hemoptysis, common cold, and fullness in the chest, sore throat and pain along the meridian.

3. Acupoints
Zhongfu (a front-mu point, LU l)
Location: 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline and at the same level of the first intercostal space.
Indications: Cough, asthma, sore throat, fullness in the chest and pain in the shoulders and back.
Method: Insert the needle obliquely into the lateral side of the chest, 0.5-0.8 cun deep.
Notes:
a) Do not insert the needle too deep lest the Lung should be injured.
b) Vasculature: Axillary artery and vein and thoracoacromial artery and vein. Innervation: Intermediate supraclavicular nerve, the branches of thoracic nerves and the lateral cord of the brachial plexus.

Yunmen (LU 2)
Location: 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline and in the depression of the infraclavicular fossa.
Indications: Cough, asthma, sore throat, a hot sensation in the chest and pain in the chest.
Method: Insert the needle obliquely into the lateral Side of the chest, 0.5-0.8 cun deep.
Notes:
a) Do not insert the needle too deep lest the lung should be injured.
b) Vasculature: Cephalic vein, thoracoacromial artery and vein, and axillary artery.
Innervation: Intermediate and posterior supraclavicular nerves, the branches of thoracic nerves and brachial plexus.

Tianfu (LU 3)
Location: On the medial Side of the upper arm, 3 cun below the anterior end of the axillary fold and on the radial Side of biceps muscle of arm.
Indications: Cough, asthma, epistaxis and pain in the shoulders and medial side of the upper arm.
Method: Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.5-1 cun deep.
Notes.
a) SImple measurement: Raise the arm horizontally forward and bend neck towards the arm. The place on the medial Side where the tip of nose touches is the Tianfu acupoint.
b) Tianfu (LU 3) and Hegu (LI 4) are effective in treating epistaxis.
c) Vasculature: Cephalic vein and the branches of brachial artery and vein. Innervation: Lateral cutaneous nerve of arm and musculocutaneous nerve.

Xiabai (LU 4)
Location: One cun below Tianfu (LU 3), 5 cun above the cubital crease and on the radial border of biceps muscle of arm.
Indications: Cough, shortness of breath, pain and fullness in the chest, pain in the medial Side of the upper arm and retching.
Method: Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.5- 1 cun deep.
Notes: Vasculature and innervation are the same as those of Tianfu (LU 3).

Chize (a he-sea point, LU 5)
Location: Above the cubital crease and on the radial border of the tendon of the biceps.
Indications: Cough, asthma, afternoon fever, hemoptysis, epistaxis, sore throat, pain and fullness in the chest, pain in the elbow and arm, infantile convulsion and acute mastitis.
Method: Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.5-0.8 cun deep.
Notes:
Chize is a He-point of the meridian, belonging to water of the Five Elements. According to the principle of treating excess syndrome by purgation and reduction, this acupoint is indicated for Lung diseases of the excess type.
b) Use the point together with Zhongfu (LU 1), Danzhong (RN 17), Feishu (BL 13) and Dingrkuan (EX-BL 1) to cure cough and asthma, and in cooperation with Jianyu (LI 15) and Quchi (LI 11) to cure pain in the elbow and arm
c) Chize (LU 5) can also be used to relieve spasmodic pain in the elbow.
d) Vasculature: Branches of the radial recurrent artery and vein and cephalic vein. Innervation: Antebrachial lateral cutaneous nerve and radial nerve.

Kongzui (a xi-point, LU 6)
Location: On the medial Side of the forearm and the line joining Chize (LU 5) and Taiyuan (LU 9), and 7 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist.
Indications: Cough, asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, aphonia and spasmodic pain in the elbow and arm. Method: Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.5-l cun deep.
Notes:
a) Use the point together with Hegu (LI 4) to treat fever without sweating.
b) Vasculature: Cephalic vein and radial artery and vein. Innervation: Antebrachial lateral cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of radial nerve.

Lieque (a lou-point and one of the eight confluent points, LU 7)
Location: On the radial Side of the forearm, superior to the styloid process of the radius and 1.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist.
Indications: Cough, asthma, sore throat, pain in the wrist, rigidity of nape with headache, facial paralysis and toothache.
Method: Insert the needle obliquely upward, 0.3- 0.5 cun deep.
Notes:
a) Simple measurement: Cross the inter-space between the index finger and thumb of both hands, with the index finger of one hand on the styloid process of the radius of the other, and the point is at the depression under the tip of the index finger.
b) Since this acupoint is one of the eight confluent points, it can be used together with Zhaohai (KI 6) to treat sore throat.
c) Lieque (LU 7) and Wangu (GB 12) are indicated for facial paralysis.
d) Vasculature: Cephalic vein and the branches of redial artery and vein. Innervation. Antebrachial lateral cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of radial nerve.

Jing-riverqu (a jing-river point, LU 8)
Location: On the palmar side of the forearm, 1 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist and on the radial Side of artery.
Indications: Cough, asthma, sore throat, chest pain and pain in the wrist.
Method: Keep away from radial artery and insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.3-0.5 cun deep. Moxibustion is contraindicated.
Notes: Vasculature: Radial artery and vein. Innervation: Antebrachial lateral cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of redial nerve.

Taiyuan (a shu-stream point, a yuan point and one of the eight influential points, LU 9)
Location: On the transverse crease of the wrist and in the depression on the Side of radial artery.
Indications: Cough, asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, chest pain, acrotism and pain in the wrist.
Method: Keep away from artery and insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.3-0.5 cun deep.
Notes:
a) It is a shu-point of the meridian, belonging to earth of the Five Elements. According to the principle of adopting the reinforcing and replenishing method for a deficiency syndrome, this acupoint is indicated for Lung diseases of the deficiency type.
b) Use the point together with Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7) to treat chest pain and palpitation.
c) It is advisable to puncture Taiyuan (LU 9) and Lieque (LU 7) in treating cough and wind-phelgm syndrome.
d) It is said that Taiyuan and Renying (ST 9) can be used as the main acupoints to cure acrotism.
e) Vasculature: Radial artery and vein. Innervation: Antebrachial lateral cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of radial nerve.

Yuji (a ying-spring point, LU 10)
Location: On the radial side of the midpoint of the first metacarpal bone and the dorso-ventral boundary of the hand.
Indications: Cough, asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, aphonia, fever and a hot sensation in the palm.
Method: Insert the needle perpendicularly, 0.5-0. 8 cun deep.
Notes:
a) It is said that when treating bronchial asthma, needling Yuji together with Dazhui (DU 14), Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (RN 4) will help improve pulmonary function, relieve bronchial spasm, reduce airway resistance, promote ventilatory function and alleviate the wheezing sound.
b) Vasculature: Venules linking the thumb with cephalic vein. Innervation: Superficial ramus of radial nerve.

Shaoshang (a jing-well point, LU 11)
Location: On the radial Side of the thumb and about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the fingernail.
Indications: Cough, sore throat, epistaxis, fever and syncope.
Method: Insert the needle obliquely upward, 0.l -0.2 cun deep or induce Bleeding by prompt prick.
Notes:
a) Renzhong (DU 26) and Zusanli (ST 36) may be used together to treat syncope and shock.
b) According to Epitome of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shaoshong, Tiantu (RN 22) and Hegu (LI 4) are indicated for treating sore throat.
c) Vasculature: The arterial and venous network formed by palmar and digital proprial arteries and veins. Innervation: Mixed branches of antebrachial lateral cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of radial nerve and the peripheral nerve network formed by the palmar and digital proprial nerve of the median nerve.

Fill the Registration Form Right Now

return