LI 4 - Joining the Valley

[Guest guest]

>Last Sunday I watched an acupuncturist needle a young boy who suffers

>from a traumatic brain injury. The 10 year old looks much like someone

>with cerebral palsy would look.

 

Note the reference here to " looks much like someone with cerebral palsy " .

This is going to be important to understanding why the acupunturist may have

chosen this particular point in this particular case.

 

>3) Near/on the web space between the thumb and the second fingers.

>

 

Large Intestine 4 (aka Joining the Valley, aka Hoku or Hegu) is one of those

points that gets used a lot in acupuncture/ acupressure because it can play

a role in treating a number of different conditions.

 

In Acupressure's Potent Points by Michael Reed Gach, LI 4 is listed as

" Relieves frontal headaches, constipation, degression; alleviates pain and

balances the gastrointestinal system. " (p. 236) LI 4 is listed as a " potent

point " in 12 different chapters in this book: Allergies (p. 26), colds &

flu (60), constipation (68), hangovers (98), headaches & migraines (105),

hot flashes (114), boosting the immune system (120), relieving labor pain

(152), nosebleeds (182), relieving upper body pain (186), sinus & hay fever

(203), and toothaches (218).

 

On the surface it may look like a one-size fits all point because it gets

used in so many things. But when one starts to read what Maciocia has to

say about LI 4 in The Foundations of , it becomes a little

bit clearer why LI 4 gets used in so many cases.

 

Maciocia lists the following actions of LI 4:

 

" Dispels exterior Wind

Releases the Exterior

Stimulates the dispersing function of the Lungs

Stops pain

Removes obstructions from the channel

Tonifies Qi and consolidates the Exterior

Harmonizes ascending and descending " (p. 376)

 

Let's take a look at some of these in more detail. LI 4 can dispel Exterior

Wind, release the Exterior, stimulate the dispersing function of the Lungs,

and can be used in combination with other points to tonify Qi and

consolidate the Exterior. Remember the symptoms of Exterior attack by Wind,

Heat, and Cold? Nasal and sinus congestion, achy muscles, etc. Sneezing and

scratchy throat in the case of Wind Heat. Remember how TCM views colds and

flu (and some other diseases) as having their start in attack by Exterior

Wind Cold or Wind Heat? What this point does is it fights off Exterior

Pernicious Evils, in particular Wind. This explains why this one point would

be mentioned in the Potent Points chapters on allergies, colds & flu,

headaches & migraines (these are headaches which have a factor of being due

to congestion), and sinus & hay fever. In addition to LI 4's usual releasing

properties as listed above, you can combine it with other points to tonify

Qi and consolidate the Exterior. In other words, you can use it to increase

Protective (Wei) Qi. Protective Qi Deficiency often is a reason why some

people are so sensitive to Exterior Pernicious Evils (weather sensitive) and

infections to begin with.

 

Now look at the part about " stops pain " . This is why the point gets

mentioned in the Potent Points chapters on hangovers (which often are

accompanied by headaches), headaches & migraines (it not only works on

headaches due to nasal and sinus congestion by helping to remove the

congestion, it works on the pain of many different types of headaches),

relieving labor pain (in addition to promoting smooth contractions),

relieving upper body pain, and toothaches.

 

Now look at the part about " harmonizes ascending and descending " . Remember

that there are proper directions of energy flows in the body. Maciocia

writes, " L.I.-4 can harmonize the ascending of Yang and descending of Yin.

This means that it can be used to subdue ascending rebellious Qi (such as

ascending STomach_Qi, Lung-Qi or Liver-Qi) or to raise Qi when it is sinking

(such as sinking Spleen-Qi). This is part of the reason why this point is

mentioned in the chapters on constipation, headaches & migraines, hot

flashes, relieving labor pain, and nosebleeds. In the case of headaches, it

not only helps to remove the cause of the ones due to congestion and to

relieve pain of all of them, it works on the Root of the ones like certain

migraines (not all migraines) that are due to Liver Yang Rising. In

addition, because of the " harmonizes ascending and descending " action, this

is a point that would be used in some cases of asthma, those which are due

to factors like Rebellious Stomach Qi, Large Intestine Qi Stagnation, and

Rebellious Lung Qi. In addition, this point can be used to help clear Heat

from the Lungs because it does promote regular bowel movements. (Though

you'll probably need more than just this point in cases of severe Heat in

the Lungs or Fire in the Lungs.)

 

But why did I say pay attention to the part about the child looking much

like someone with cerebral palsy? In TCM, things like some cases of

paralysis (especially one-sided paralysis), tics, spasms, etc. often are due

to a Root of Internal Wind. Maciocia writes that Large Intestine 4 " is

sometimes combined with Taichong, LIV-3 (this combination is called the

'Four Gates'), to expel interior or exterior Wind from the head, stop pain,

and calm the Mind. " (p. 376)

 

>1) Near the web space between the 1st and 2nd toes of each foot.

>

 

This may have been LIV 3 (Liver 3) as LIV 3 is located in this area.

 

In addition, Maciocia writes that LI 4 can be combined with ST-36 (Stomach

36) in order to increase Protective Qi and make a person less vulnerable to

attack by Exterior Wind. (Very often, if a person has an Interior Pernicious

Evil - such as Interior Cold, Interior Wind, etc.), this makes a person more

vulnerable to External Pernicious Evils.

 

>2) On the lower anterior legs, about 3 inches down from the knee.

>

 

This may be St-36. Was the point he needled more toward the lateral than the

medial surface of the leg, and was it on a muscle that moves up and down

when one flexes the foot? St-36 is also one of those points that increase

energy in general since it tonifies Stomach Qi.

 

>4) One needle in each side of the neck, a little below the ear.

 

This may be one of the Triple Heater (aka Triple Burner, aka Triple Warmer)

points. TH 17 - which is known as " Wind Screen " is used to expel Wind.

Maciocia writes, " As it expels Wind from the face, it is also used in other

problems caused by exterior Wind, such as trgeminal neuralgia and facial

paralysis. " (p. 442) TH 17 is located in the vacinity of behind the ear

lobe. There are several points located below the ear, some of which are TH

points, some of which are not.

 

In addition, Maciocia writes, " In my experience, L.I.4 has a strong

influence on the mind and can be used to soothe the mind and allay anxiety,

particularly if combined with Taichong LIV-3 or with Shenting Du-24 and

Benshen G.B.-13. " (p. 377) In other words, it can be used with Lv 3 to help

calm a person.

 

Victoria

 

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