Hegu LI4

NAMES - MERIDIAN:

• Joining Valley, He Gu _ Large Intestine

• L'union des vallées _ Gros intestin

• Huyệt Hợp cốc (tên khác là Hiệp cốc) _ Kinh Thủ dương minh đại trường

• 合谷, hé gǔ _ 手阳明大肠经

• hap gok 합곡, gō koku _ 수양명대장경

Abbreviated in English :LI4, LI-4

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS:

The Hegu LI4 acupoint is also known as the “pain cutting acupoint”.

INDICATIONS :

• The Hegu LI4 acupoint is also known as the “pain cutting acupoint”.

• Specializes in the treatment of: Headache, red eyes, nosebleeds, stuffy nose, toothache, swollen eyes, swollen throat. Hemiplegia, finger spasticity, arm pain, clenched teeth, sore extremities, distorted mouth and eyes, infantile convulsions, manic psychosis, nervous tension. Cold, high fever, no sweat or excessive sweating, malaria, dysplasia (stagnation), blood stagnation, amenorrhea, true dysmenorrhea. Stomach pain, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea. Malignant warts, hives.

ASSOCIATIONS

• The combination gently stimulates LI4 acupoint, strongly stimulates KD7 acupoint to treat typhoid without sweat.

• The combination gently stimulates LI4 acupoint, strongly stimulates SP6 acupoint to treat cough caused by cold.

• Combined with CV7 acupoint, SP10 acupoint, ST30 acupoint to treat irregular menstruation.

• Combined with DU20 acupoint, DU14 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, GB20 acupoint to treat colds and flu.

• Combined with DU20 acupoint, GB30 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, LI15 acupoint, ST36 acupoint, GB39 acupoint to prevent cerebrovascular accident.

• Combined with Bailao EX-HN17, gently stimulates LI4 acupoint, strongly stimulates ST44 acupoint, strongly stimulates KD7 acupoint to treat typhoid without sweat.

• Combination of middle finger nail with 12 acupoints (LU1 acupoint, LI1 acupoint, ST45 acupoint, SP1 acupoint, HT9 acupoint, SI1 acupoint, BL67 acupoint, KI1 acupoint, PC9 acupoint, TE1 acupoint, GB44 acupoint, LV1 acupoint ), DU26 acupoint to treat cerebrovascular accident or unconsciousness.

• Combined with KD6 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, GB41 acupoint, DU26 acupoint, SP6 acupoint, ST36 acupoint to treat swollen limbs and face, high fever does not decrease.

• Coordinating with BL60 acupoint, GB34 acupoint, GB30 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, LI15 acupoint, GB31 acupoint, ST36 acupoint, GB39 acupoint to treat cerebrovascular accident, unable to speak, with a lot of viscous sputum.

• Combined with SI6 acupoint, TE17 acupoint to moisturize the skin and tighten the face.

• Combined with DU14 acupoint, DU13 acupoint, GB20 acupoint, DU12 acupoint, LU11 acupoint [blood injection] to treat colds and heat.

• Combined with DU14 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, TE5 acupoint, LU10 acupoint to treat heat and cold.

• Combined with DU14 acupoint, PC9 acupoint to treat typhoid fever.

• Combined with CV17 acupoint, SI1 acupoint treats women without milk.

• Combined with TE2 acupoint, LI1 acupoint to treat malaria.

• Combined with KI1 acupoint, ST40 acupoint, CV22 acupoint to treat sore throat.

• Combined with TE4 acupoint, ST41 acupoint, SI3 acupoint, ST45 acupoint, GB20 acupoint to treat typhoid without sweating.

• Combined with PC5 acupoint, LU10 acupoint, BL13 acupoint, BL23 acupoint to treat silence.

• Combined with ST6 acupoint, ST7 acupoint to treat toothache.

• Combined with ST6 acupoint, LI11 acupoint to treat drooling.

• Combined with ST6 acupoint, LU10 acupoint, CV24 acupoint, ST36 acupoint to treat clenched teeth, misaligned eyes, distorted mouth.

• Combined with LV2 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, ST36 acupoint to treat pimples that grow all over the body.

• Combined with LV2 acupoint, BL12 acupoint, GB39 acupoint to treat after typhoid but still have residual heat.

• Combined with LV2 acupoint, GB20 acupoint, Taiyang EX-HN5, BL1 acupoint to treat red, painful eyes.

• Combined with SP10 acupoint, LI11 acupoint, SP6 acupoint to treat leprosy.

• Combined with BL4 acupoint, BL12 acupoint, DU23 acupoint to treat rheumatic fever (inflammation of the nasal sinuses).

• Combined with LI11 acupoint, DU26 acupoint, KD7 acupoint to treat typhoid, causing spasticity, unconsciousness.

• Combined with LI11 acupoint to treat headache.

• Combined with ST45 acupoint to treat toothache and fear of wind.

• Combined with LU7 acupoint, TE5 acupoint to treat headaches and colds.

• Combined with BL5 acupoint to treat headache caused by heat.

• Combined with ST44 acupoint to treat typhoid fever.

• Combined with PC6 acupoint for anesthesia during surgery.

• Combined with PC6 acupoint to form "four senses" acupoints that have the effect of treating rheumatism.

• Combined with GB20 acupoint for cold treatment.

• Combined with KD7 acupoint, CV3 acupoint has no pulse.

• Combined with SP6 acupoint to treat difficult births and breech births.

• Combined with SP6 acupoint, save 14 men and treat ventricular septal defect, urinary turbidity.

• Combined with BL15 acupoint, SP3 acupoint, HT8 acupoint, ST36 acupoint, BL20 acupoint to treat mouth sores.

• Combined with Taiyang EX-HN5, BL1 acupoint, ST36 acupoint to treat red, painful eyes.

• Combined with LU9 acupoint, BL23 acupoint to treat lung cancer, vomiting pus.

• Combined with LV3 acupoint to treat stuffy nose, nasal hemorrhoids.

• Combined with LV3 acupoint to treat stuffy nose, nasal hemorrhoids, runny nose.

• Combined with LV3 acupoint to vigorously mobilize blood and qi in the body, eliminate maintenance, relieve pain.

• Combined with LU3 acupoint to treat nosebleeds.

• Combined with DU23 acupoint to treat nosebleeds.

• Combined with DU26 acupoint to treat biting lips, unable to speak.

• Hegu LI4 in combination with the Neiguan PC6 to form a “four guan” acupuncture point has the effect of treating rheumatism.

• Use the Hegu LI4 in combination with the Taichong LV3 to strongly mobilize blood and qi in the body, eliminate maintenance and relieve pain.

LOCATION AND FIND THE ACUPOINT:

Please watch the instructions in the video

SOME NOTABLE RECENT APPLIED STUDIES:

• Huang, W., Zhou, Y., Zhang, X., & Liu, Y. (2019). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 37, 7-14. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines in patients.

• Li, J., Zhang, Y., Liu, X., & Zhang, X. (2017). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, 13(4), 632-637. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly reduce cancer pain.

• Li, S., Liang, F., Li, Y., Yu, S., & Li, C. (2020). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 40(6), 951-957. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly improve sleep quality in patients with insomnia.

• Liu, J., & Fang, J. (2019). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in Medicine, 37(3), 148-155. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

• Liu, J., Li, J., Li, P., Li, N., Wang, Y., & Chen, X. (2018). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 13(12), e0208490. This meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• Wang, Y., Lu, C., Guo, Y., Cheng, J., & Wu, C. (2018). The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for patients with asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 9386414. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with asthma.

• Wu, Y., Li, Z., & Liu, Y. (2019). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 37, 100-109. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

• Xiong, J., Wang, L., Qiu, Y., & Wu, T. (2021). The effectiveness of acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) on the immune function of patients with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 41(2), 202-210. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly improve the immune function of patients with diabetes mellitus.

• Yang, X., Zhang, Y., Yu, J., Liu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2019). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in Medicine, 37(6), 345-352. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly reduce the severity of depression and improve the quality of life of patients.

• Yuan, Q., Liu, L., Sun, X., & Zhang, Y. (2019). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 47, 102227. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly reduce menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea.

• Zhang, Y., Tian, S., Yang, X., Yu, J., & Wang, Y. (2019). The effect of acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) on gastrointestinal motility: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019, 9895460. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly improve gastrointestinal motility in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• Zhang, Y., Yang, X., Yu, J., Liu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2020). Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) for constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 40(4), 529-537. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could significantly improve bowel movement frequency and stool consistency in patients with constipation.

NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS THESE STUDIES INCLUDE:

Notable highlights from these studies include the finding that acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) could improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment, reduce menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea, improve gastrointestinal motility in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, reduce cancer pain, improve sleep quality in patients with insomnia, improve the immune function of patients with diabetes mellitus, improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, knee osteoarthritis, migraines, and constipation.