-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
point
LI-4: X-4: he gu
acupuncture

definition

he gu = joining the valleys; union valley
Yuan Source and Entry point of the Hand Yang Ming (Large Intestine) channel; Command point of the face and mouth; one of the Nine Needles for Returning the Yang
location: On the dorsum of the hand, at the high point of the muscles between the 1st and 2nd metacarpals, slightly closer to the index finger, approximately half way up the lateral edge of the 2nd metacarpal.
actions: releases the Exterior; dispels Exterior Wind, including Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat; reduces fever; pacifies the Shen; regulates Qi and Xue (Blood); brightens the eyes; descends Stagnant Qi from sinuses; clears the nose; influences the thyroid (Worsley, 1975, p. B-20); tonifies Lung Qi and stimulates dispersing function of the Lung; activates Wei (Protective) Qi and stimulates the immune system; induces or stabilizes sweating; tonifies Metal to cool inflammatory processes and restrain Wood, esp. the Liver; cools and drains Lung Heat; relaxes Stomach spasms; relaxes pylorus and inhibits peristalsis; regulates Qi and disperses Heat of the Intestines; moves the bowels; promotes menses; descending motion to facilitate parturition; elevates Clear Qi and descends Turbid Qi; clears Toxins; relaxes sinews and tendons; treats edema above the waist; eliminates Damp-Heat and stops itching; sedates pain; frees the channels and invigorates the collateral vessels
indications: insomnia; nervous depression; night sweats; fever without sweating; intermittent fever; pain in general; hemiplegia; headache; migraine; facial paralysis; facial swelling; wryness of eyes and mouth; diseases of sensory organs; deafness; tinnitus; aphonia; conjunctivitis; swollen, painful and burning eyes; spots in vision; weak eyesight; nasal congestion; epistaxis; sneezing; common cold; allergic rhinitis; trigeminal neuralgia; toothache; unable to close lips; muteness; bleeding gums; parotitis; sore swollen throat; tonsillitis; dyspnea; hypertonicity of the fingers; abdominal pain; constipation; dysentery; delayed or difficult labor; secondary amenorrhea; neuralgia of scapula, back and renal area; paralysis of limbs; Wind rash; pruritus
needle technique: perpendicular insertion, 0.5 - 1.0 cun, producing a local sensation of soreness and distension, possibly spreading up to, or even past, the elbow and down to index finger
moxa: 3 - 5 cones of direct moxa; 5 - 15 minutes of indirect moxibustion with a pole
caution: acupuncture and moxibustion both contraindicated in pregnancy
combinations:
» with Lv-3 opens the Four Gates; expels Wind, stops pain; regulates Qi and Xue (Blood) circulation; removes Obstruction of the channels; opens the Orifices; releases bodily tension; relaxes clenching of jaws; frees constraint; calms the mind; relieves mental cloudiness; provides sedative and analgesic effect; pacifies Liver Yang (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 76);
» with Lv-3 and UB-23 stops pain and convulsion (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with PC-6 for various anesthetic purposes (Shanghai, p. 233);
» GV-15, PC-8, Sp-6, Kd-1, Kd-3, CV-12, GB-30, St-36 and LI-4 are the Nine Needles for Returning the Yang (Li, p. 627-628)
» with LI-15, LI-11, TW-5, zhi tan #1 and bi zhong (can also use: TW-14, LI-10, TW-4 and TW-3) for sequelae of cerebrovascular accident effecting the upper limb(s) (Shanghai, p. 620)
» with LI-15, LI-11 and jing bi to treat stroke, hemiplegia, rheumatic arthritis, infantile paralysis in the upper limbs (Flaws, 1989, p. 100);
» with Kd-7 regulates diaphoresis: (+, then -) disperses the Exterior and induces diaphoresis, esp. to expel Wind-Cold; (-, then +) stops sweating; or Kd-7 (-) and LI-4 (+) to disperse the Exterior and induce sweating (Finkelstein, p. 7; Shanghai, p. 233);
» with GV-26, CV-12, CV-6, LI-11, PC-9, St-44 and St-36 for heat exhaustion or sunstroke (Shanghai, p. 570);
» with Kd-7 and UB-11 to treat fever without sweating due to External Invasion (Flaws, 1989, p. 95);
» with St-36 and CV-6 strengthens Wei (Protective) Qi;
» with CV-14 and CV-22 increases white blood cells (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with GB-20 for the common cold (Shanghai, p. 233);
» with TW-5 and GV-14 (+) relieves Exterior Wind-Cold and relieves depression; (-) clears Wind-Heat and induces diaphoresis (Finkelstein, p. 8);
» with GB-20 and UB-1 dispels Wind and disperses Heat (Finkelstein, p. 8);
» with UB-18 and PC-5 dispels Wind; releases Qi Stagnation and emotional depression (Finkelstein, p. 8);
» with PC-5 removes Obstruction of Qi circulation and releases mental depression (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 78);
» GV-14 (needle first), then LI-11, LI-4, St-43 and Lv-3 (can also add: CV-12, PC-6, Sp-4 and St-36) for superficial condition of heat exhaustion or sunstroke (Shanghai, p. 568)
» with GB-20 and TW-5 removes Wind and Heat (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with UB-12 eliminates Wind and relieves body surfaces (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with St-44 and LI-11 for acute tonsillitis (Shanghai, p. 691);
» with TW-2, Lu-10 and Lu-11 (-) for "'silkworm butterfly angina'" due to Toxic Heat in which "the throat presents the appearance of two silkworms lying upon a small cushion (tonsils) which are inflamed, red and painful" (McWilliams, et al., Lesson 31, p. 216);
» with UB-13 clears Heat of the Upper Warmer and moistens the Lung (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with Lu-7 removes Obstruction of Lung Qi; removes Exterior pathogens, esp. Wind and Cold; promotes sweating; and treats upper body edema (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 77);
» with bleeding of UB-54/40, allays inflammation (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with St-44, GB-10, GB-14 and LI-3 for toothache (Shanghai, p. 692);
» with GV-14 allays inflammation and relaxes throat (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with UB-10, CV-23, CV-22, SI-5, LI-3, SI-3, Lu-11, TW-1, St-36, St-40, Sp-6 and Lv-2 for laryngitis (Lee and Cheung, p. 355).
» with Kd-1, CV-22 and St-40 for laryngitis (Lee and Cheung, p. 355)
» with Lu-9 restores the Lung's function of clearing and descending (Flaws, 1989, p. 77);
» with TW-6 loosens the surface and extrudes draft (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with GB-20, UB-23, St-40, St-41 and UB-62 for Meniere's disease (Shanghai, p. 685);
» with St-25 readjust Qi of the Hand Yang Ming (Large Intestine) channel (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with St-44 reduces and disperses Heat of Yang Ming (Large Intestine and Stomach) channels and clear Heat from the eyes (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 77);
» with LI-20 clears Wind-Heat of Yang Ming; disperses Phlegm; and removes nasal obstruction (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 77);
» with GV-26 loosens clenched teeth (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with CV-17 and CV-22 increases peristalsis of esophagus (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with St-36 and Sp-6 increases digestive enzymes and gastric acidity (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» first needle LI-4, then Sp-6 and CV-7 for "spleen disease and qi pain" (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 152);
» with PC-7 (-) clears Fire of the Middle Warmer; relieves depression; calms the Shen (Flaws, 1989, p. 77; Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with St-44 and Sp-9 (-) eliminates Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine, Spleen and Stomach (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with LI-11 clears Heat; causes sweating; eliminates fever; disperses Wind and Summer-Heat; resolve Damp; facilitates Stomach and Intestines to eliminate skin eruptions (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 77); treats unilateral Wind rash (Shanghai, p. 233);
» with St-37 and St-39 (-) clears accumulated Heat of the Intestines (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with St-44 and GB-34 clears Damp-Heat of Intestines and Stomach to treat Damp-Heat diarrhea (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with LI-11, GV-14 and St-43 clears and disperses Summer-Heat (Finkelstein, p. 8);
» with Sp-8 treats painful menstruation and abnormal pain (Finkelstein, p. 7);
» with Sp-12, Lv-4, St-30, Sp-6 and GB-21 for difficult labor (Shanghai, p. 677);
» with UB-67 and Sp-6 (++) induces labor (Finkelstein, p. 8).


footnotes