LU Meridian

Front Mu – LI 1

Confluent – LU 7

Coupled – KI 6

Coupled Meridian: Yin Qiao

Luo – LU 7

Course: The Lung meridian originates deep in the MJ (in the region of the stomach) and descends to
connect with the LI then winds back up through the diaphragm.

It spreads over the chest, penetrating the LU and ascends along the trachea to the throat crosses to
the lateral side of the chest then emerges at LU 1, located at the 1st intercostal space, 6 cun lateral
from the midline and continues up one rib to LU 2.

The meridian travels down the antero-lateral aspect of the upper arm (along the outer border of the
biceps muscle) down to the cubital crease, radial to the tendon of biceps brachii. Then continues
along the radial side of the forearm to LU 7, near the styloid process of the radius. It then follows the
lateral border of radial artery to the thenar eminence. The meridian terminates at the radial side of
the thumb at LU 11. An internal branch connects from LU 7 to the LI meridian on the radial side of
the index finger.

Conditions: Conditions of the throat, chest, Lung, Large Intestine, and the areas the meridian
supplies

Indication: Distension and fullness of the chest, congested and sore throat, pain in the
supraclavicular fossa and anterior aspect of the medial side of the arm, cold and pain in the shoulder
and back
Acupuncture Points: 11

Starred: 7 (most used) – LU 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

Good youtube video to locate lung acupoints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNqhCDQd0lI

Before locating LU 1 we need to locate LU 2. The distance from midline to acromium process is 8
cun. Half of that is 4 cun, middle of clavicle, and another half to find 6 cun. LU 2 is below the clavicle,
in the middle of the deltopectoral triangle, 6 cun from the midline. LU 1 is 1 cun inferior to LU 2, in
the first intercostal space, still 6 cun from middline (looks a little bit lateral to LU 2 due to widening
of the chest as we move down).

LU 1

 Location: on the lateral aspect of the chest, in the first intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the
midline, 1 cun inferior to LU-2.
 Needling method: transverse oblique, laterally along the intercostal space
 Moxa: yes
 Precaution: Never puncture deeply or obliquely, could cause pneumothorax (puncturing the
cavity between the lungs and the chest wall, causing collapse of the lung)
 It is the Luo point of the LU meridian
 Meets the SP meridian internally

Actions:

 Transforms phlegm and clears Heat from UJ

o Coughing with yellow mucus
o Fullness of the chest, oppression of the chest and difficulty breathing
 Disperses and descends LU Qi and stops coughing and wheezing
 o
Asthmatic cough, dyspnoea (subjective experience of difficult and uncomfortable
breathing), wheezing, asthma
o Fullness of the chest, oppression of the chest and difficulty breathing
o Pain in chest, shoulder and back
 Descends ST Qi
o Difficult ingestion, vomiting, belching, epigastric and abdominal distention

LU 2, 3, 4 NOT IMPORTANT FOR NOW

To locate LU 3, 4 measure the distance from the axillary crease to the cubital fossa, which is 9 cun.
Divide this in 3 and you get 3 cun from axillary crease where LU 3 is located. LU 4 is 1 cun inferior to
LU 3. To locate this further divide the middle third in 3 to get 1 cun. These points are located on the
anterolateral aspect of the arm, lateral to the biceps brachii muscle.

LU 5

 Location: on the cubital crease of the elbow, in the depression at the radial side of the tendon
of biceps brachii, slightly lateral to the tendon rather than immediately next to it
 Needling method: perpendicularly
 Moxa: no
 Is the He-Sea point of LU meridian

Actions:
  Clears Heat from LU
o Haemoptysis - spitting of blood that originated in the lungs, hectic (tidal) fever,
congested and sore throat, infantile convulsion due to heat consuming Yin and
blood
 Disperses and descends LU Qi
o Cough, asthmatic breathing, distension and fullness in the chest vomiting and
diarrhoea
 Calms the mind and stops pain
o Spasmodic pain in the elbow and arm due to heat consuming BF

The distance between the wrist crease (LU 9) and cubital fossa is 12 cun. Divide this distance in
halves to find 6 cun. Divide in two the first half to find 3 cun. Divide the second half in three to find 1
cun. 1 cun superior to midpoint is LU 6. If we divide the distal half in two we get 3 cun. Divide again
the distal half and we get 1.5 cun and this is LU 7, which is 1.5 cun from the wrist crease or LU 9.

LU 6
 Location: on the line linking LU 9 and LU 5, 7 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist
 Needling method: perpendicularly
 Moxa: yes
 Is the Xi-cleft point of the LU meridian

Actions:

 Regulates LU Qi
o Dry cough especially at night, asthmatic breathing
 Clear Heat and stops bleeding
o Coughing blood, epistaxis, vomiting blood, congested and sore throat
 Expels EPF
o Local point for pain along the meridian
o Spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm

LU 7

 Location: on the radial aspect of the forearm, superior to the styloid process of the radius;
approximately 1.5 cun above the wrist crease, in the cleft between the tendons of
brachioradialis and abductor pollicis longus.
 Needling method: transversely or obliquely
 Moxa: no
 Precaution: in pregnancy
  Luo point, confluent of REN and coupled Yin Qiao

Actions:

 Releases the exterior and expels Wind and Cold

o Common cold, headache and neck rigidity
 Disperses and descends LU Qi
o Cough due mostly to EPF, asthmatic breathing
 Clears the throat and chest
o Congested and sore throat, sore throat with dry sensation
 Opens and regulates the free flow of Qi in the REN meridian
o deviation of the mouth and eye, and toothache

LU 8 NOT IMPORTANT FOR NOW

LU 9
 Location: at the wrist joint, in the depression between the radial artery and the tendon of
abductor pollicis longus, the proximal border of the pisiform bone
 Needling method: perpendicularly and superficially
 Moxa: yes
 Shu Stream, Yuan and Influential point of the LU meridian
 Actions:

 Clears Heat and promotes descending function of LU Qi

 Regulates LU Qi
o Cough, asthmatic breathing, wheezing
 Tonifies the LU and transforms Phlegm
o Cough, cough with copious watery phlegm, haemoptysis, pain in the chest,
congested and sore throat, pain in the wrist and arm and a disease without a
pulse.

LU 10

 Location: at the midpoint of the first metacarpal bone, on the junction of the red and white skin
 Needling method: perpendicularly
 Moxa: yes

Actions:

 Regulated LU Qi
o Cough, asthmatic breathing, wheezing
 Clears Heat, benefits the throat
o Haemoptysis, congested and sore throat, hoarseness of the voice and fever

LU 11

 Location: on the radial side of the thumb, at the corner of the nail (at the junction of lines
drawn along the radial border of the nail and the base of the nail)
 Needling method: superficially 0.1 cun
 Moxa: yes

Actions:

 Regulates LU Qi
o Cough, asthmatic breathing, wheezing
 Clears Heat, benefits the throat
o Haemoptysis, congested and sore throat, hoarseness of the voice and fever
 Resuscitates the spirit
o Loss of consciousness and mania