Lecture Notes: Locating Points on the Hand Yang Ming Large Intestine Channel

Introduction

• Presenter: Nicholas
• Topic: Locating acupuncture points on the Hand Yang Ming large intestine channel.
• Goal: Understand the process of locating specific points on the large intestine channel for acupuncture.

Initial Arm Position

• Position: Similar to a waiter holding a bottle of wine.
  • Purpose: Provides a straight line for point location.
  • Details: Arm with palm facing chest, radial side pointing up.

Point Locations

1. Large Intestine 1 (LI1)

• Location: Radial side of the index finger near the nail.
• Technique: Use the proximal and radial nail borders; intersect point is LI1.

2. Large Intestine 2 (LI2) & Large Intestine 3 (LI3)

• LI2 Location: Distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint on the radial side.
• LI3 Location: In the depression proximal to the second metacarpal bone head.

3. Large Intestine 4 (LI4)

• Location: Midpoint of the second metacarpal bone near the radial border.
• Common Mistakes: Misidentifying the bone base or measuring too far into the webbing.

4. Large Intestine 5 (LI5)

• Location: Radial side of the wrist in the anatomical snuff box between two tendons.

5. Large Intestine 11 (LI11)

• Location: Midway between Lung 5 and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
• Alternative Description: At lateral end of the cubital crease with elbow flexed.

Line Connection and Other Points

Line from LI5 to LI11

• Purpose: Establishes a line for locating additional points.

Intermediate Points

• LI6: 3 soon from LI5.
• LI7: 5 soon up from LI5.
• LI8, LI9, LI10: Based on divisions of 12 soon from LI5 to LI11.

Upper Arm Points

• LI12: 1 soon up and back from LI11.
• LI15: Depression anterior and inferior to the acromion process.
• LI13 & LI14: Along the line between LI11 and LI15.

Shoulder Point

• LI16: In the corner between the clavicle and spine of scapula.

Neck and Face Points

• LI18: Level with the laryngeal prominence between SCM heads.
• LI17: Posterior border of SCM, 1 soon below LI18.
• LI19 & LI20: Located on the face, near nostrils and in nasolabial groove.

Tips and Techniques

• Palpation: Relaxing fingers and feeling for depressions helps in finding points.
• Needling Techniques: Options vary with point location, such as depth and direction.
• Measurement: Use anatomical landmarks and proportions of the arm for precise measurement.