Liver Channel of Foot- An Introduction
Liver Channel of Foot – Jueyin 足厥阴肝经
The Chapter “Discussion on the channels” in Miraculous Pivot says: The Liver channel of foot starts from the dorsal hair of the great toe, runs upward along the dorsum of the foot through the point, 1 cun in front of the medial malleolus, ascends to the area 8 cun above the medial malleolus when it runs across and behind the Spleen channel. Then it runs further upward to the medial side of the knee, and along the medial side of the thigh to the pubic hair region where it curves around the external genitalia and goes up to the lower abdomen. It then runs upward and curves around the stomach to enter the liver, its pertaining organ, and connects with the gallbladder. It ascends, passing through the diaphragm and branching out in the costal and hypochondriac regions. Then it ascends along the posterior aspect of the throat to the naso-pharynx and connects with the eye. Running upward, it comes out from the forehead and meets the Governor Vessel at the vertex. The branch arising from the eye runs downward into the cheek and curves around the inner surface of the lips. The branch arising from the liver passes through the diaphragm, runs upward into the lung.
Summary of Indications: Disease of the liver and gallbladder, gynecological and genital diseases and conditions along the pathway of the channel.
Liver Channel of Foot with Name and Indication:
| No. | Name | Location |
| LR1 | Dadun大敦 | On the lateral side of the big toe, approximately 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail. |
|
Xingjian 行间 |
On the dorsum of the foot, proximal to the margin of the web between the 1st and 2nd toes
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Taichong 太冲 |
On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.
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| Zhongfeng
中封 |
1 cun anterior to the medial mallelous, in the depression of the medial border of the tendon of medial tibilais anterior, between shangqiu(SP5) and Jiexi(ST4). | |
|
Ligou 蠡沟 |
5 cun above the tip of medial mallelous , in the centre of the medial aspect of the tibia. | |
|
Zhongdu 中都 |
7 cun above the tip of medial mallelous , in the centre of the medial aspect of the tibia. | |
| LR7 | Xiguan 膝关 | Posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of tibia, 1 cun posterior to the Yinlianquan (SP 9). |
|
Ququan 曲泉 |
With the knee bent, in the depression above the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease. | |
| LR9 | Yinbao 阴包 | 4 cun above the medial epicondyle of the femur, between m.vastus medialis and m. Sartorius |
| Zuwuli
足五里 |
3 cun directly below qichong(ST30), inferior to the pubic tubercle | |
| LR11 | Yinlian 阴廉 | 2 cun directly below qichong(ST30), inferior to the pubic tubercle |
|
Jimai 急脉 |
Lateral and inferior to qichong(ST30), in the crease of the groin where the femoral artery pulsates,2.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline. | |
| Zhangmen
章门 |
On the lower border of the free end of the 11th rib. | |
|
Qimen 期门 |
Directly below the nipple, at the 6th intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline..
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