Yuan-source point

bubble_chart Etymology

"He" (合), get together; "gu" (谷) refers to a valley; in human body, it is the major convergence of flesh. The point is where thumb and index fingers meet, hence its name.

bubble_chart Location

Hegu (LI4) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

Between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones on the back of the hand, at the midpoint of the radial side of the 2nd metacarpal bone.

• Lingshu-Benshu: "Between bones of thumb and index finger";
• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Between thumb and index finger".
• Qianjin Yifang: "At the end of the longitudinal crease behind the web between thumb and index finger, where a depression can be felt when the finger is extended."
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "Align the two fingers, locate on the highest point of the crease's end, and insert the needle while making a fist."
• Donggong Anmo Mijue: "At the tip of the flesh between the bones of the thumb and the second finger," which is the highest point of the bulge at the web between the thumb and index finger when the thumb and index finger are pressed together. Alternatively, bend one thumb and place its pad on the web of the other hand, aligning its distal transverse crease with the edge of the web; the point is located where the tip of the first thumb rests.

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: The first dorsal interosseous muscle, the deep layer is the transverse head of the adductor pollicis muscle, and the muscle spindles are densely packed in the muscle layer.
• Nerves: The superficial branch of the radial nerve is the dorsal branch of the hand, and the deep layer is the palmar proper nerve of the median nerve.
• Vessels: There is the radial part of the dorsal hand venous network (the beginning of the cephalic vein) in the subcutaneous tissue, and the first dorsal metacarpal artery is located on the radial edge of the second metacarpal bone. In the middle layer, close to the divergence of the bases of the first and second metacarpal bones, the radial artery runs from the back of the hand to the deep part of the palm. The main pollicis artery arises from the radial artery and runs between the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the adductor pollicis muscle.

bubble_chart Manipulation

The hand is in the shape of a semi-clenched fist, with perpendicular insertion or slightly upward oblique insertion 0.5-1 cun, or deep to the little finger side under the metacarpal bone. Care should be taken to prevent puncturing the artery, and during deep penetration, it is necessary to prevent puncturing the deep palmar arterial arch to avoid bleeding. If the branch of the cephalic vein in the superficial tendon membrane on the dorsal side is punctured, a hematoma may form in the superficial tendon membrane. If the radial artery or the main pollicis artery is injured, it can cause contracture of the first dorsal interosseous muscle or the adductor pollicis muscle and cause deformity.

Acupoint injections are not suitable, especially highly irritating liquids. Even if the dose is not large, they can cause chemical inflammatory reactions, local exudation and bleeding, leading to increased localized intramuscular pressure, muscle fiber necrosis, muscle fibrosis, and formation of contracture. Superficial cases can cause contracture of the first dorsal interosseous muscle, while deep cases can cause contracture of the adductor pollicis muscle, or both muscles may be affected at the same time. Injection around the radial artery or the main thumb artery can cause arterial spasm and arteritis, causing ischemic contracture of the adductor pollicis muscle and the first dorsal interosseous muscle.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Disperse external wind, relieve stuffy orifices, clear lung qi, harmonize the stomach and intestines, regulate menstruation and induce labor.

• Classical: Stroke with clenched mouth, facial asymmetry, fever with no sweating, excessive sweating, amenorrhea, headache, blurred vision, eye pain, nosebleeds, deafness, toothache, facial puffiness, throat obstruction, finger spasms, arm pain, scabies, cold and heat malaria, mania, aphonia, wind rash, chest pain, unilateral or bilateral headaches, pediatric eye malnutrition, severe thirst from cold damage, fever with chills, headache and stiff spine, stillbirth, miscarriage, pediatric night blindness, constipation, dysentery, heatstroke, mumps, and various types of pain.
• Modern: Common cold, influenza, facial nerve paralysis, facial muscle spasm, trigeminal neuralgia, dental neuralgia, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, difficulty swallowing, neurasthenia, hysteria, forearm neuralgia, bronchitis, asthma, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, rhinitis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, retained placenta, postpartum uterine atony, postpartum lactation insufficiency, simple goiter, pediatric indigestion, acute pancreatitis, conjunctivitis, electronic ophthalmia, joint pain.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Common cold or electronic ophthalmia: Fengchi (GB20), Hegu (LI4).
• Headache caused by cold injury: Zanzhu (BL2), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Hegu (LI4).
• Stuffy nose, nasal polyp and sinusitis: Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3).
• Epistaxis: Shangxing (GV23), Hegu (LI4).
• toothache: Xiaguan (ST7), Jiache (ST6), Hegu (LI4).
• Sore throat and swelling, obstruction, and inability to swallow fluids: Hegu (LI4), Shaoshang (LU11).
• Difficult delivery: Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
• Herpes zoster: Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Xuehai (SP10), Sanyinjiao (SP6) .
• Less sweating: Hegu (LI4) (replenishment), Fuliu (KI7) (relaxation).
• Excessive sweating: Hegu (LI4) (laxative), Fuliu (KI7) (supplementary).
• cold malaria with facial swelling and bowel sounds: Hegu (LI4), Neiting (ST44).
• Simple or toxic dyspepsia in children: Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
• Acute pancreatitis: Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36).
• Cold or heat Bi syndrome pain: Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3).