"He" (禾) refers to rice or grain; "liao" (髎) refers to a bone cavity. The point is located at the place where the upper lip's mustache emerges, which is also a depression near the apex of the upper jaw's canine fossa, hence the name. To avoid confusion with the "Heliao (TE22)" point, the term "Kouheliao (LI19)" is used, with "Kou" (口) meaning "mouth."

bubble_chart Location

Heliao (LI19) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the upper lip, directly below the outer edge of the nostril, in line with Shuigou (GV26). 5 fen to the side of Shuigou (GV26), at the apex of upper jaw's canine fossa.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Located directly below the nostril, about 5 fen beside Shuigou (GV26)."

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: insertion of quadratus labii superioris.
• Nerve: the anastomotic plexus of the facial nerve and infraorbital nerve.
• Vessels: facial artery and superior labial branch of vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Puncture shallowly 0.2 to 0.3 cun. No moxibustion.

bubble_chart Efficacy

open and unblock orifices.

• Classical: nasal ulcer, polyps, nasal congestion, epistaxis, clear nasal discharge, locked jaw, nasal obstruction with facial paralysis, corpse-like syncope.
• Modern: rhinitis, facial nerve paralysis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Epistaxis: Shangxing (GV23), Heliao.
• Crooked mouth: Heliao, Dicang (ST4).