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Location Guides: |
Front Mu of the Liver
Exit point to Zhongfu Lu-1
Spirit point
Shokanten Nine Continents Point of the Lower Jiao, Jueyin and chest
Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)
Meeting of Liver with Spleen, Yin Wei Mai, Gall Bladder Divergent and Liver Divergent
On the mamillary line, in the sixth intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the midline.
Transverse-oblique medial or lateral insertion 0.5 - 1 cun
Deep perpendicular or oblique insertion carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax
"The Jueyin usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Jueyin is to be pierced 1 fen deep and remain inserted for two exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is located with the" (patient’s) arm raised, needled to a depth of four fen, and moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Spreads the Liver and regulates Qi
Invigorates Blood and disperses masses
Harmonises the Liver and Stomach
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Cutaneous thoracic nerves from T7
Dermatome Segment: T7
Muscle:
Intercostals
Location Notes:
Intercostals can produce trigger points anywhere in the intercostal space
Pain Referral Pattern:
Locally and towards the sternum. The more posterior the point the stronger its tendency to radiate pain to the front
Indications:
Aching pain exacerbated by deep inhalation and activities such as sneezing and coughing
In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this point is a cavity press point (Dian Xue, 點穴) struck with a fist, Phoenix Eye Fist, elbow, side of the foot or heel causing possible sealing of the breath and liver shock or rupture (Yang, 1995, Tai Chi Chin Na).
Listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621), Article 9: Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Vital Points Revealed as the vital point associated with the Chou 丑 Ox (1 - 3 am) and the Liver meridian. In Article 24: Bronze Man Statue, which divides the body into zones associated with the Twelve-Hour branches (Shichen 時辰) going from top downwards, this point is the vital point of Si 巳 Snake (9 - 11 am) and considered most vulnerable during this time (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).
Deadly and relatively easy to get at, striking this point will cause mental problems, heart problems, including stoppage, lung collapse and liver failure. Sliced across the body from outside to inside it causes great emotional problems and Qi stoppage, draining energy and causing blindness instantly or later (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
This is one of the eight striking points in Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu. These are the nonfatal areas on an attacker's body that can be struck when just defending or wanting to defeat an attacker. Although described as "The point in the middle of the ribs" the diagram shows it towards the bottom of the sternum, around Ren-16 (Olson, 2010, The Complete Guide to Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu). However, Wong Honfan (1946) describes it as "the lungs under the upper ribs [the flanks]" suggesting that it may mean in between the ribs on the flanks at this point or GB-24 (Ravenswood Academy, 2020, The Eight Forbidden Strikes of Praying Mantis Fist).
Also a common target in sword fighting to rupture the liver and hepatic portal resulting in death from rapid blood loss.
Mainly used for spreading Liver qi stagnation in the middle and upper jiao, affecting the Stomach, Heart or Lungs.
In five element acupuncture indicated for a wood cf who feels hopeless.
期 has several meaning but is derived from a changing moon marking the passage of a period of time, hence a "cycle" or "hope (for the future)". These meanings, together with its function as the front Mu of the Liver, the organ most concerned with self-determination and its location on the Yin Wei Mai, all suggest a primary indication of providing closure and the hope of a new beginning on a person who has experienced trauma. It may also refer to its position as the last point on the Liver channel before the cycle of Qi return to the Lung channel,
Ling Shu Ch. 22, On Mania and Madness, suggests bleeding from the flanks below the chest when the patient's abdomen feels swollen with intestinal noises and has a fullness in the chest with difficulty breathing. If they move their hands when they cough then the back Shu points are to be pressed with the hand too for immediate relief.
The cathartic release of emotion through the Liver is explained as follows:
- Bleed Ligou Liv-5 to clear Cold in the Liver that gives rise to an inability to act.
- Tonify Ququan Liv-8 (Mother of Liver), Zhangmen Liv-13 and Qimen Liv-14 to help the patient cope with the release.
- Disperse Guangming GB-37 to help illuminate one's path in life. When we let go of our emotional fixations we can have a clear vision of the world. (Chin, 2003, The Luo Vessels, The Luo Vessels).
Shokanten points are often used in Japanese acupuncture to treat conditions arising from a psycho-emotional background. This point affects the Lower Jiao, Jueyin and chest area.
The Front Mu points make likely locations for application of leeches to reduce fevers according to François Broussais' (1772-1838) philosophy who believed in placing them over the diseased organs to reduce inflammation (Greenstone, 2010, The history of bloodletting, BCMJ, Vol. 52, No. 1, Pp 12-14).
Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.
For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here
Steve Woodley Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine
90 Deane Croft Road,
Eascote, Pinner, Greater London. HA5 1SP
Tel/WhatsApp: +44 (0) 7946 174 829
Email: steve@steve-woodley.co.uk
