The meridian system (simplified Chinese: 经络; traditional Chinese: 經絡; pinyin: jīngluò, also called channel network) is a concept in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) about a path through which the life-energy known as “qi” flows.1 The twelve standard meridians, also called principal meridians, are divided into Yin and Yang groups. The Yin meridians of the arm are Lung, Heart, and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Triple Burner. The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen, Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.2 The Liver Meridian or Liver Channel is one of the 12 principal meridians in TCM. It corresponds with the Shaoyang Gall Bladder Meridian of the Foot. The Flow Hours of this meridian are 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM.3
CONTENTS
ORGAN AND FUNCTION
ACUPOINTS
FLOWING ROUTES
ORGAN AND FUNCTION
The Liver (肝, Pinyin: Gān) is one of the zang organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name. The Liver is a zang organ meaning it is a yin organ.4 It has the following principal functions:
-It governs “unclogging and deflation” (疏泄, Pinyin: Shū-xiè) primarily of qi and emotions. The free flow of qi in turn will ensure the free flow of blood, digestion, and water.
-It governs the free flow of qì and xuě (blood) in particular significant since TCM stipulates that stagnation of that flow will cause pain.
-By association via its respective element each zàng organ is embracing a certain emotion. The free flow of these five (and other) emotions is thus linked to the unrestrained circulation of the qì of the zàng organs.
-It stores (藏, Pinyin: Cáng) blood.
-It opens into the eyes.
-It governs the tendons.
-It reflects itself in the nails.
-It governs anger (怒, Pinyin: Nǜ).
-It houses the hún (魂, Ethereal Soul).5
Its associated body fluid are the tears. Further, the Liver function is regarded to be strongest between 1 am – 3 am. Its blood is responsible for the repetitive cycles of human life, for example menstruation. The Huang Di Nei Jing describes the Liver as “the general of an army”. It secretes bile, which is stored in the Gallbladder. A properly functioning Liver organ will ensure that the tendons are properly nourished and not too tense or gristly. The normal direction of Liver qi is downward.6
ACUPOINTS
This meridian contains 14 acupoints in one side, that is 28 acupoints in total.
LV-1 / Dadun / 大敦
Location: On the lateral side of the terminal phalanx of the great toe, 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail.
Indications: Hernia, enuresis, uterine bleeding, prolapse of the uterus, epilepsy.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture subcutaneously 0.1-0.2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The dorsal digital artery and vein.
Innervation: The dorsal digital nerve derived from the deep peroneal nerve.
LV-2 / Xingjian / 行间
Location: On the dorsum of the foot between the first and second toe, proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin.
Indications: Pain in the hypochondrium, abdominal distension, headache, dizziness and vertigo, congestion, swelling and pain of the eye, deviation of the mouth, hernia, painful urination, retention of urine, irregular menstruation, epilepsy, insomnia, convulsion.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture obliquely 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The dorsal venous network of the foot and the first dorsal digital artery and vein.
Innervation: The site where the dorsal digital nerves split from the lateral dorsal metatarsal nerve of the deep peroneal nerve.
LV-3 / Taichong / 太冲
Location: On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones.
Indications: Headache, dizziness and vertigo, insomnia, congestion, swelling and pain of the eye, depression, infantile convulsion, deviation of the mouth, pain in the hypochondriac region, uterine bleeding, hernia, enuresis, retention of urine, epilepsy, pain in the anterior aspect of the medial malleolus.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The dorsal venous network of the foot, the first dorsal metatarsal artery.
Innervation: The branch of the deep peroneal nerve.
LV-4 / Zhongfeng / 中封
Location: Anterior to the medial malleolus, midway between Shangqiu (SP-5) and Jiexi (ST-41), in the depression on the medial side of the tendon of m. tibialis anterior.
Indications: Hernia, pain in the external genitalia, nocturnal emission, retention of urine, distending pain in the hypochondrium.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularl 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The dorsal venous ne work of the foot and the anterior medial malleolar artery.
Innervation: The branch of the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot and the saphenous nerve.
LV-5 / Ligou / 蠡沟
Location: 5 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the midline of the medial surface of the tibia.
Indications: Retention of urine, enuresis, hernia, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, pruritus valvae, weakness and atrophy of the leg.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture subcutaneously 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: Posteriorly, the great saphenous vein.
Innervation: The branch of the saphenous nerve.
LV-6 / Zhongdu / 中都
Location: 7 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the midline of the medial surface of the tibia.
Indications: Abdominal pain, hypochondriac pain, diarrhea, hernia, uterine bleeding, prolonged lochia.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture subcutaneously 0.5-0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The great saphenous vem.
Innervation: The branch of the saphenous nerve.
LV-7 / Xiguan / 膝关
Location: Posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia, in the upper portion of the medial head of m. gastrocnemius, 1 cun posterior to Yinlingquan (SP-9).
Indication: Pain of the knee.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: Deeper, the posterior tibial artery.
Innervation: The branch of the medial sural cutaneous nerve; deeper, the tibial nerve.
LV-8 / Ququan / 曲泉
Location: When knee is flexed, the point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease, posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia, in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of m. semimembranosus and m. semitendinosus.
Indications: Prolapse of uterus, lower abdominal pain, retention of urine, nocturnal emission, pain in the external genitalia, pruritus vulvae, pain in the medial aspect of the knee and thigh.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: Anteriorly, the great saphenous vein, on the pathway of the genu su prema artery.
Innervation: The saphenous.
LV-9 / Yinbao / 阴包
Location: 4 cun above the medial epicondyle of the femur, between m. vastus medialis and m. sartorius.
Indications: Pain in the lumbosacral region, lower abdominal pain, enuresis, retention of urine, irregular menstruation.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-0.7 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: Deeper, on the lateral side, the femoral artery and vein, the superficial branch of the medial circumflex femoral artery.
Innervation: The anterior femoral cutaneous nerve, on the pathway of the anterior branch of the obturator nerve.
LV-10 / Zuwuli / 足五里
Location: 3 cun directly below Qichong (ST-30), at the proximal end of the thigh, below the pubic tubercle and on the lateral border of m. abductor longus.
Indications: Lower abdominal distention and fullness, retention of urine.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The superficial branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery and vein.
Innervation: The genitofemoral nerve, the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve; deeper, the anterior branch of the obturator nerve.
LV-11 / Yinlian / 阴廉
Location: 2 cun directly below Qichong (ST-30), at the proximal end of the thigh, below the pubic tubercle and on the lateral border of m. abductor longus.
Indications: Irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, lower abdominal pain, pain in the thigh and leg.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery and vein.
Innervation: The genitofemoral nerve, the branch of the medial femoral cutaneous nerve; deeper, the anterior branch of the obturator nerve.
LV-12 / Jimai / 急脉
Location: Lateral to the pubic tubercle, lateral and inferior to Qichong (ST-30), in the inguinal groove where the pulsation of femoral artery is palpable, 2.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Indications: Lower abdominal pain, hernia, pain in the external genitalia.
Acupuncture Method: Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The branches of the external pudendal artery and vein, the pubic branches of the inferior epigastric artery and vein; laterally, the femoral vein.
Innervation: The ilioinguinal nerve; deeper, in the inferior aspect, the anterior branch of the obturator nerve.
LV-13 / Zhangmen / 章门
Location: On the lateral side of the abdomen, below the free end of the eleventh rib.
Indications: Abdominal distention, borborygmus, pain in the hypochondriac region, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The terminal branch of the tenth intercostal artery.
Innervation: Slightly inferiorly, the tenth intercostal nerve.
LV-14 / Qimen / 期门
Location: Directly below the nipple, in the sixth intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Indications: Hypochondriac pain, abdominal distention, hiccup, acid regurgitation, mastitis, depression, febrile diseases.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture obliquely 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The sixth intercostal artery and vein.
Innervation: The sixth intercostal nerve.
FLOWING ROUTES
This meridian originates from the dorsal hairy region of the great toe, where it goes upwards along the dorsum to Zhongfeng (LV-14), 1 cun in front of the medial malleolus. From there, it continuously ascends along the anterior border of the medial aspect of the tibia to an area 8 cun above the medial malleolus, where it runs across and behind taiyin spleen meridian of the foot. Passing through the medial side of the knee, it runs along the medial aspect of the thigh into the pubic hair region, where it curves around the external genitalia and goes up to the lower abdomen. Ascending through Zhangmen (LV-13) and Qimen (LV-14), it enters the abdomen and runs alongside the stomach to pertain to the liver and link with the gallbladder. Then it ascends through the diaphragm and distributes in the costal and the hypochondriac region. Ascending along the posterior aspect of the throat to the nasopharynx, it connects with the eye system and emerges from the forehead where it goes up to the vertex (Baihui, GV-20) to connect with the governor vessel.
One branch from the eye system descends inside the cheek and curves around the inner surface of the lips.
Another branch starting from the liver ascends through the diaphragm and enters into the lung, where it connects with taiyin lung meridian of the hand.7
Footnotes
- What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine – sciencebasedmedicine.org – 2012, https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/what-is-traditional-chinese-medicine/
- Advanced Pressure Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo – A Dillman Karate International Book – 1994, https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Pressure-Point-Fighting-Ryukyu/dp/0963199633/
- Acupuncture points of the liver meridian of the foot – cnacupuncture.com – 2017, http://www.cnacupuncture.com/points-of-the-liver-meridian-of-foot-jueyin.html
- Chinese natural cures – Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing – 1994, https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/1579120563/
- Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion – Foreign Languages Press – 1987, https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Acupuncture-Moxibustion-Seventeenth-Printing/dp/7119059947/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493125663&sr=1-1
- The foundations of chinese medicine: a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists – Black Dog & Elsevier Churchill Livingstone – 2005, https://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Chinese-Medicine-Comprehensive-Acupuncturists/dp/0443074895
- Jueyin Liver Meridian of the Foot – tcmwiki.com – 2017, https://tcmwiki.com/wiki/jueyin-liver-meridian-of-foot
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