LI04 Hegu (Junction Valley)

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.

Indications

Conditions for which LI04 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Absent PeriodsAtrophy LimbsChills Nasal Congestion Deafness(infant) Nutrition DeficiencyInfantile Nutrition DeficiencyYang DeficiencyDeviation FaceFacial Droop Nasal DischargeDisease FebrilePsychological DisorderDysenteryEyesight / Vision DimDim VisionEyesight / Vision Superficial ObstructionSuperficial Obstruction VisionFeverGhost Syndrome Childhood Fright WindHemiplegia High Blood PressureFinger Contraction StiffnessHand Tendinous Strain StiffnessLips Do Not Close StiffnessLips Tightness StiffnessThumb Sprain StiffnessImmobility Finger ContractionImmobility Hand Tendinous StrainImmobility Lips Do Not CloseImmobility Lips TightnessImmobility Thumb SprainInjury ColdLabour Delayed Labour Induce Labour Prolonged Malaria MumpsNosebleedPain Arm Pain Bone Pain Eye Pain HeadacheHeadache Global PainMigraineHeadache One-sided PainLumbar Spine PainTeeth Toothache Inferior Jaw PainTendon Ligament PainTendon / Ligament PainPharyngitisPulse / Heart Rate FloatingPulse Heart Rate Floating Redness Release ExteriorRetention Dead FoetusRhinitisExcessive SneezingChannel StagnationQi Defensive StagnationSpontaneous Sweating Sweating Excessive SwellingFacial SwellingBi Arthralgia Limbs SyndromeBi / Arthralgia Limbs SyndromeWind Cold Exterior SyndromeWind-cold Exterior SyndromeTetanusThirsting ExcessiveTinnitusTongue Lotus FlowerTongue RigidTongue Surface CrackedTonsilitis (infant)Tonsilitis InfantileMouth UlcersVoice LossWindWind Rash

TCM actions

What classical sources say LI04 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit EarsBenefit EyesBenefit FaceBenefit MouthBenefit NoseBenefit Regulate SweatingRegulate Sweating

Protocols using LI04

The 50 best-sourced of 1733, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

Facial Paralysis, Facial Paralysis, Facial Paralysis, Facial Paralysis – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST07, SP06, SI18, TB05, TB17, GB14, LV03, XH18, XH29 (doi:10.1016/S0254-6272(09)60061-3 ↗)
Paralysis Facial – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST07, SP06, SI18, TB05, TB17, GB14, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60061-3 ↗)
Mania Mental Disease – LI04, ST40, GV26 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60044-3 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI03, LI04, ST02, ST03, ST06, ST07, ST44, SI18, BL02, GB14, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST06, ST07, ST08, ST41, ST44, SP06, SI18, BL02, BL65, TB05, TB17, GB03, GB14, GB20, LV03, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, LI11, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST07, ST08, ST36, ST44, SP06, SI18, BL02, GB01, GB14, LV02, LV03, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST03, ST04, ST06, ST07, ST36, SP06, SI18, GB14, GB15, GB34, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST07, ST08, ST36, SP06, SI18, GB14, LV03, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST07, ST08, ST36, ST44, SP06, SI18, TB05, GB14, LV03, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, ST02, ST06, ST07, GB02, GB14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60018-0 ↗)
Cerebral Palsy, Motor Dysfunction, Posture Abnormalities – LI04, LI11, ST02, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, HT07, SI19, BL01, BL17, BL18, BL23, BL40, BL60, BL62, KD01, KD03, KD06, PC06, PC08, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB13, GB14, GB19, LV03, CV06, CV10, CV12, CV13, CV14, CV23, GV17, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60074-1 ↗)
Vision Loss, Optic Nerve Contusion – LI04, LI11, BL01, BL02, BL18, GB20, GB37, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗)
Vision Blurred, Optic Nerve Contusion – LI04, LI11, ST36, BL01, BL02, BL18, GB20, GB37, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗)
Sweating, Lassitude, Poor Appetite, Palpitation, Chest Precordial Pain, Loose Stool – LI04, ST36, HT06, BL15, BL17, PC06, LV03, CV14, CV17 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60034-5 ↗)
Lassitude, Abdominal Distention, Chloasma, Shoulder Pain, Loose Stool, Neck Muscular Pain, Quick Temper – LI04, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST36, SP06, SP10, HT07, SI18, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60017-0 ↗)
Fatigue, Dizziness, Headache, Depression, Lassitude, Knee Pain, Head Vertex Pain, Dyspnea, Heaviness Lower Limbs, Lower Back Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, HT07, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, BL26, KD03, PC06, GB20, LV03, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
Constipation, Urinary Incontinence, Thigh Pain, Lumbar Pain, Urinary Frequent, Urinary Urgent, Lower Limbs Weakness – LI04, ST25, ST31, ST32, SP06, SP10, KD03, GB31, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60017-9 ↗)
Bedwetting, Restlessness, Mental Retardation, Slow Reaction, Glossolalia, Salivation, Feeble Neck – LI04, ST04, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL10, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, GB13, GB20, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV23, GV14, GV15, GV17, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60036-2 ↗)
Limbs Numbness, Limbs Pain, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Abnormal Sensation Limbs – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST09, ST31, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST43, ST44, SP03, SP06, SP08, SP09, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB34, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60003-9 ↗)
Nasal Obstruction, Sneezing, Nasal Itching, Nasal Discharge Watery, Aversion to Heat, Dry Mouth, Itching Throat – LU09, LI04, LI11, LI20, BL13, GB20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60062-5 ↗)
Anxiety, Post-stroke Anxiety, Neurosis Anxiety – LI04, HT07, PC06, LV03, GV20, GV24, GV26 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60043-6 ↗)
Chloasma, Skin Pigmentation – LI04, LI20, ST01, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST07, ST36, SP06, SI18, GB14, CV24, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60004-0 ↗)
Papules, Nodules, Acne, Pustules, Cysts – LI04, LI11, ST04, ST06, SI19, BL13, GB14, CV24, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60007-2 ↗)
Papules, Nodules, Acne, Pustules, Cysts, Heat Lung-stomach – LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, TB05, GB34 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60007-2 ↗)
Dementia Vascular, Cognitive Impairment, Memory Short-term Impaired, Behavioral Dysfunction – LI04, GB20, LV03, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(11)60036-8 ↗)
Insomnia – LI04, ST36, SP06, HT07, PC06, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60009-1 ↗)
Depression, Depressive Neurosis – LI04, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60037-6 ↗)
Paralysis Facial, Wind-heat Syndrome – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, SI18, BL02, TB01, TB23, GB14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60026-x ↗)
Paralysis Facial, Wind-heat Syndrome – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, SI18, BL02, TB23, GB14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60026-x ↗)
Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Arm, Paralysis Leg, Spasticity – LI04, LI10, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP10, BL60, TB05, GB34, LV03, CV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60042-4 ↗)
Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Arm, Paralysis Leg, Spasticity, Speech Unclear – LI04, LI10, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST41, TB05, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60042-4 ↗)
Obesity – LU03, LU04, LI04, LI11, LI15, ST32, ST36, ST37, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP10, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60060-1 ↗)
Fatigue, Dizziness, Headache, Depression, Insomnia, Back Pain, Precordial Pain, Gastrointestinal Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, HT07, KD03, KD06, PC06, GB43, LV02, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60057-1 ↗)
Neuralgia Trigeminal, Facial Trigeminal Pain – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST18, SI18, SI19, BL02, TB23, GB03, GB13, GB14, CV24, GV23 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60005-9 ↗)
Neuralgia Trigeminal, Facial Paroxysmal Pain, Facial Lancinating Pain – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, SI18, GB03, CV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60005-9 ↗)
Constipation, Obesity, Irritability, Acne Facial, Halitosis – LI04, SP06, LV05 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60043-1 ↗)
Dizziness, Vertigo, Tremor, Irritability, Inattention, Chorea, Tic Head, Tic Eyelid, Tic Scalp, Taste Bitter, Taste Dry – LI04, ST08, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60083-2 ↗)
Dementia, Memory Loss, Cognitive Decline, Dementia Senile – LI04, ST36, SP06, HT07, PC05, LV03, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60071-6 ↗)
Cough Chronic – LI04, BL13, BL20, BL21, CV12, CV17, CV22 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60022-4 ↗)
Sputum, Cough Chronic, Appetite Poor – LI04, BL13, BL20, BL21, CV17, CV22 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60022-4 ↗)
Paralysis Hemiplegia, Paralysis Flaccid – LU05, LI04, SP06, HT01, BL40, KD01, PC06, GB40, CV04, GV26 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60022-9 ↗)
Paralysis, Cerebrovascular Disease Acute Ischemic, Neurological Dysfunction – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST32, ST36, SP06, SI03, BL60, TB05, GB30, GB34, GB39 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60045-x ↗)
Labor Difficult, Uterine Inertia – LI04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60037-0 ↗)
Headache, Migraine, Vascular Headache – LI04, SP06, SP10, PC06, GB08, GB20, LV02, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60076-5 ↗)
Analgesia Abdominal, Anesthesia General Adjunct, Anesthesia Requirement Reduction, Analgesia Upper-abdomen – LI04, ST34, ST36, SP06 (doi:10.1213/01.ANE.0000142114.72117.E0 ↗)
Joint Pain, Stiffness Morning, Arthritis Rheumatoid Juvenile, Stiffness Joint – LI04, ST36, BL40, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nel012 ↗)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Neuropathic Pain – LI04 (doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.12.003 ↗)
Labor Pain, Anxiety Labor – LI04, SP06 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Knee – LU06, LI04, LI10, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP05, SP06, SP09, SP10, SI08, SI10, BL23, BL40, BL60, KD03, KD07, KD10, TB14, GB33, GB34, LV03, LV07, LV08 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-4-6 ↗)
Arthritis Rheumatoid, Joint Pain, Stiffness Morning, Joint Swelling – LI04, LI11, ST36, TB05, GB34, GB39 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-7-35 ↗)

Most often selected alongside LI04

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with LI04. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

ST36Leg Three Miles818 protocols
LV03Great Surge664 protocols
SP06Three Yin Intersection586 protocols
LI11Pond At The Bend457 protocols
PC06Inner Gate453 protocols
GV20100 Convergences427 protocols
GB20Wind Pool272 protocols
TB05Outer Gate266 protocols
GB34Yang Mound Spring236 protocols
KD03Great Stream170 protocols
HT07Spirit Gate168 protocols
CV04Original Qi Gate150 protocols

Other points on the Large Intestine Meridian

LI01 LI02 LI03 LI05 LI06 LI07 LI08 LI09 LI10 LI11 LI12 LI13 LI14 LI15 LI16 LI17 LI18 LI19 LI20