Front-mu point of liver. Intersecting point: foot taiyin, jueyin, and yin link vessel.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Qi" (期), refers to a cycle, and one full year is called "qi nian" (期年). As stated in Biaoyou Fu: "Taiyin begins, and it ends at jueyin; the points emerge from Yunmen (LU2) and conclude at Qimen (LR14)." The circulation of qi and blood through the twelve meridians completes a full cycle here, and the acupoints are located bilaterally, hence the name "men" (門, door or gate). Additionally, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established "Qimen Military Palace", and since liver is considered the "general's organ" (將軍之宮), this name was given to its front-mu point.

bubble_chart Location

Qimen (LR14) acupoint
(quoted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

Located on chest, directly below nipple, in the depression of 6th intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "At the end of second rib, 1.5 cun lateral to Burong (ST19), directly above the two nipples";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "Above Riyue (GB24), horizontally aligned with Juque (que)." That is, 6 cun above navel (Juque (CV14)) and 3.5 cun lateral, 1.5 cun below Riyue (GB24). In other words: 0.5 cun lateral to Juque (CV14) is Youmen (KI21); 2 cun lateral is Burong (ST19, directly below costal margin); 3.5 cun lateral is Qimen (LR14),located at the medial end of second intercostal space below nipple, with Riyue (GB24) 1.5 cun below (one rib lower). However, since nipple is often located on 5th rib (below 4th intercostal space), the location of Rugen (ST18) is also correspondingly lower, and Qimen (LR14) should be located at the medial end of 7th intercostal space, with Riyue (GB24) shifted down to the lower edge of 8th or 9th rib (tip of 9th rib).
• Pang An-shi Shanghan Zongbing Lun: "Qimen (LR14) is directly below nipple, near costal margin on the side of abdomen. Insert the needle 1 cun." This places the point directly below nipple at the lower edge of costal arch.
• Also, Zhu GongNanyang Huoren Shu: "For women's diseases, Qimen (LR14). should be needled without using the Zi-Wu (子午) method (rotating technique), as it may entangle the visceral membrane and draw qi upward. Instead, insert the needle and have the patient take five breaths, retain the needle for a long time, and then withdraw it slowly. This is the gentle draining method. When needling Qimen (LR14) , always drain and never tonify. For obese individuals, insert up to 2 cun; for thin individuals, 1.5 cun." However, this depth is not suitable for intercostal points.

Treatment of influenza, enterovirus, and various viral colds, Chinese medicine is more refined, non-toxic, and effective than Western medicine

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: rectus abdominis, intercostal muscles.
• Nerve: Sixth and seventh intercostal nerves.
• Vessels: intercostal arteries and veins.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert horizontally along intercostal space 0.5~1 cun laterally, avoiding deep perpendicular insertion. For electroacupuncture, the depth should be from subcutaneous layer to fascial membrane. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Soothe liver and regulate qi, dispel stasis and resolve accumulation.

• Classical: distensionand pain in chest and hypochondrium, chest irritation, chest distension, liver disease, hypochondriac distension, accumulations below hypochondrium, vomiting, cough, dizziness and faintness, frequent hiccup, heat in chest, heart pain, running-piglet with upward counterflow of qi, difficulty breathing, malaria, cold damage with heat entering blood chamber, convulsions, ischuria, enuresis, cholera with diarrhea, aphonia, postpartum illness in women, difficulty eating and drinking.
• Modern: intercostal neuralgia, liver region pain, hepatosplenomegaly, hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, diaphragm spasm, gastric neurosis, mastitis, indigestion, mammary hyperplasia.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Heat in chest, rapid breathing, and rising qi below ribs: Quepen (ST12), Qimen (LR14).
• Heart pain and shortness of breath: Tiantu (CV22), Qimen (LR14), Changqiang (GV1), Xiabai (LU4 ), Zhongchong (PC9).
• Cold damage with mania: Qimen (LR14), Qihai (CV6), Quchi (LI11).
• Hard masses and hernia: Qimen (LR14), Dadun (LR1).
• Hypochondriac pain (excess pattern): Qimen (LR14), Zhigou (TE6), Yanglingquan (GB34), Zusanli (ST36), Taichong (LR3).
• Hepatitis: Qimen (LR14), Yanglingquan (GB34), Zhongfeng (LR4).
• Thoracic accumulation: Qimen (LR14), Feishu (BL13).