Large Intestine Meridian
Hand Yangming. Runs from LI01 at the index fingernail up the outer arm, over the shoulder and neck to LI20 beside the nostril. Paired with the Lung channel. · Element: Metal
20 Acupuncture Points
Each point lists the symptoms it is indicated for. A symptom links to the sourced protocols for it.
LI01Metal Yang

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 商陽 (shāng yáng)
🎯 Location: On the radial side of the index finger about 01 thumb width posterior to the corner of the nail.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders; contraindicated in serious infections of finger.
🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Tinnitus, Heat, Chest Fullness
LI02Second Space

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 二間 (èr jiān)
🎯 Location: In the depression of the radial side of the index finger distal to the 2nd metacarpophalangeal joint; point located with finger slightly flexed.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in local skin infections.
🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Common Cold, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Deviation Eye
LI03Third Space

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 三間 (sān jiān)
🎯 Location: When loose fist is made point is on the radial side of the index finger in the depression the proximal to the head of the 2nd metacarpal bone.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat
LI04Junction Valley

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)
🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.
⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.
🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind
LI05Yang Stream

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽谿 (yáng xī )
🎯 Location: On the radial side of the wrist; when thumb is tilted upward it is in the depression the between tendons of the extensor pollicus longus and brevis.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.
🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat
LI06Diverging Passage

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 偏歴 (piān lì )
🎯 Location: With elbow flexed and radial side of the arm upward, point is on the line connecting li5 and li11 3 thumb widths above the crease of the wrist.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Wind, Elbow Pain, Shoulder Pain
LI07Warm Flow

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 溫溜 (wēn liū)
🎯 Location: With elbow flexed and radial side of the arm upward, point is on the line connecting li5 and li11, 5 thumb widths above the crease of the wrist.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Heat, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Redness, Swelling
LI08Lower Ridge

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 下廉 (xià lián)
🎯 Location: On the line joining li5 and li11 4 thumb widths below cubital crease.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in areas of skin damage or infection.
🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Heat, Abdominal Pain, Wind
LI09Upper Ridge

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 上廉 (shàng lián)
🎯 Location: On the line joining li5 and li11, 3 thumb widths below cubital crease.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in local inflammation.
🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Abdominal Pain, Shoulder Pain, Pain
LI10Arm Three Miles

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)
🎯 Location: On the line joining li5 and li11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop
LI11Pond At The Bend

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)
🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between lu5 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating
LI12Elbow Bone Hole

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 肘髎 (zhǒu hé)
🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is on the lateral side of the upper arm 1 thumb width above the li11 on the border of the humerus.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Pain, Excessive Sleepiness, Channel Stagnation, Shoulder Numbness, Contraction
LI13Arm Five Li

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 手五里 (shǒu wǔ lǐ)
🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting li11 and li15, 3 thumb widths above the li11.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth and angle.
🛡️ Treats: Cough, Anxiety, Phlegm, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency
LI14Upper Arm Prominence

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 臂臑 (bì bù)
🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting li11 and li15, 7 thumb widths above the li11 at the insertion of the deltoid muscle.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth to avoid nerve damage.
🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Redness, Swelling, Pain, Goiter
LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān dòu)
🎯 Location: Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.
🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia
LI16Great Bone

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨骨 (jù gǔ)
🎯 Location: In the upper aspect of the shoulder in the depression the between acromial extremity of the clavicle and scapular spine.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax.
🛡️ Treats: Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Epilepsy, Goiter
LI17Celestial Tripod

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 天鼎 (tiān dǐng)
🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the neck at the posterior border of the scm muscle beside laryngeal protuberance at the midpoint of the line connecting li18 and st12.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution near carotid artery and jugular vein.
🛡️ Treats: Goiter, Breathing Problems, Pharyngitis, Benefit Digestion, Voice Loss
LI18Beside The Prominence

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 扶突 (fú tū)
🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the neck, level with tip of the adam's apple between sternal and clavicular heads of the scm muscle.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; proximity to carotid artery and thyroid.
🛡️ Treats: Cough, Asthma, Swelling, Sore Throat, Facial Pain
LI19Grain Bone Hole

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 口禾髎 (kǒu hé hé)
🎯 Location: Right below lateral margin of the nostril level with du26.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.
🛡️ Treats: Wind, Facial Droop, Loss of Consciousness, Nasal Congestion, Nosebleed
LI20Receiving Fragrance

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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 迎香 (yíng xiāng)
🎯 Location: In the nasolabial groove at the level of the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; proximity to facial artery.
🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Heat, Wind, Numbness