Common acupoints for hand therapy (Part 1)

The acupoints for hand therapy include the regular and extra acupoints on the hand. The acupoints on the forearm are also used in hand therapy because they are exposed and convenient to locate for application of acupuncture.

1. Chize (LU5)
Location: With elbow slightly flexed, it is on the cubital crease and on the radial border of tendon of brachial biceps muscle.
Function: To suppress adverse ascent of lung qi, tone lung yin, and moisten the lung.
Indications: Cough, Asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, chest distension, acute mastitis, arm and elbow pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1.6 cm, or bleeding therapy with three-edged needle; and moxibustion is permissible.

2. Kongzui (LU6)
Location: With arm extended and palm supine, it is on the connecting line between Chize (LU5) and Taiyuan (LU9) and 23.3 cm from Taiyuan.
Function: To suppress adverse ascent of lung qi, clear blood heat, and stop bleeding.
Indications: Cough, Asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, Aphonia, hemorrhoids, and arm and elbow pain.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1.6-3.3 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

3. Lieque (LU7)
Location: It is proximal to radial styloid process and 5 cm proximal to carpal crease.
Function: To expel pathogen from lungs and adjust Renmai (conceptional vessel).
Indications: Cough, Asthma, sore throat, hemiplegia, deviation of mouth and eye, Migraine, stiff neck, toothache, and hotness in palm.
Acupuncture: Oblique insertion of needle toward elbow for 0.7 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

4. Jingqu (LU8)
Location: With palm supine, it is 3.3 cm proximal to carpal crease and in a depression between radial styloid process and radial artery.
Function: To control cough and asthma and adjust breath.
Indications: Cough, Asthma, sore throat, pain and distension in chest, and hotness in palm.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

5. Taiyuan (LU9)
Location: With palm supine, it is on carpal crease and in a depression on the radial side of radial artery.
Function: To control cough, resolve phlegm, improve body resistance, and expel pathogens.
Indications: Cough, Asthma, hemoptysis, pain and distension of chest, sore throat, vomiting, abdominal distension, irregular pulse, and hand and wrist pain.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

6. Yuji (LU10)
Location: With palm supine, it is proximal to the first metacarpophalangeal joint, at the midpoint of metacarpal bone and on the dorsopalmar boundary.
Function: To clear heat in lungs, relieve stagnation in throat, and clear heat in blood.
Indications: Cough, hemoptysis, sore throat, elbow spasm, and hotness in palm.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1.6-3.3 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

 
7. Shaoshang (LU11)
Location: On the radial side of thumb and 0.3 cm from corner of nail.
Function: To clear heat, open sense organ orifices, restore yang, revive critical patients, relieve stagnation in throat, and control convulsion.
Indications: Cough, Asthma, sore throat, madness, Epilepsy, stroke with coma, febrile diseases, and convulsion in children.
Acupuncture: Horizontal insertion of needle toward wrist for 0.6 cm or bleeding therapy with three-edged needle; and moxibustion is permissible.

8. Shangyang (LI 1)
Location: On the radial side of index finger and 0.3 cm from the corner of nail.
Function: To clear heat, resolve swelling, open sense organ orifices, and refresh the mind.
Indications: Sore throat, swelling of jaw, toothache, deafness, Tinnitus, cough, Asthma, stroke with coma, and shoulder pain.
Acupuncture: Upward oblique insertion of needle for 0.6 cm or bleeding therapy with three-edged needle; and moxibustion is permissible.

9. Erjian (LI 2)
Location: With hand slightly clenched, it is on the radial side of second metacarpophalangeal joint and distal to it, and on the dorsopalmar boundary of hand.
Function: To clear heat and resolve swelling.
Indications: Sore throat, swelling of jaw, Nasal Bleeding, toothache, eye pain, deviation of mouth and eye, body heat, and shoulder pain.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 0.6 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

10. Sanjian (LI 3)
Location: With hand slightly clenched, it is on the radial side of index finger and proximal to second metacarpophalangeal joint and capitulum of second metacarpal bone.
Function: To clear heat, resolve swelling, relieve fullness, and stop diarrhea.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

11. Hegu (LI 4)
Location: Between the first and second metacarpal bone and at the midpoint of second metacarpal bone.
Function: To clear heat, treat exterior syndrome, and improve vision and hearing.
Indications: Headache, dizziness, toothache, eye pain, sore throat, swelling of face, deviation of mouth and eye, diseases of nose and ear, fever, hemiplegia, finger spasms, arm pain, Amenorrhea, late delivery of baby, skin rashes, and diseases of stomach and intestines.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1.6-3.3 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.

12. Yangxi (LI 5)
Location: On the radial side of dorsum of wrist and in a depression between tendons of long and short extensor muscles of thumb.
Function: To clear heat, tranquilize the mind, improve vision, and remove stagnation in throat.
Indications: Headache, sore throat, red eyes, deafness, Tinnitus, toothache, arm and wrist pain, Epilepsy, and madness.
Acupuncture: Vertical insertion of needle for 1.3 cm; and moxibustion is permissible.