Large Intestine 4
LI4 Acupressure Point Location and Uses
Use the Metal Element Aroma Acu-Stick® to activate points on the Large Intestine Channel. LI 4 acupressure point is one of the most beloved acupuncture points of all time because of its many benefits and actions. It can be used in a variety of conditions, and although this is called the Large Intestine or Colon-Hand Taiyang channel (meridian), points along this channel are not best known for digestive complaints (look to the Stomach and Spleen acupressure points instead).
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- General Acupressure Directions-Video
Location of Acupressure Point LI 4
On the dorsal hand between the thumb and pointer finger on top of the mound that is made when the thumb is pressed tight to the finger between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bone. If the thumb and pointer finger are pressed together, LI4 would be located at the peak spot next to the thumb. Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4 to activate the healing potential of the pressure point.
Health Conditions Treated with Large Intestine 4 Acupressure Point
Four Gates
Acupressure point Large Intestine 4 is often combined with acupressure point Liver 3; this combination is referred to as “The Four Gates”. By activating the Four Gates one is opening the gates that are stagnating, or blocking, the free flow of Qi causing pain and disease. Therefore, it is appropriate for ANY pain syndrome and chronic diseases with elements of Liver Qi Stagnation. This combination is also used with colds and flus in the early stages to dispel the Exterior Pathogenic Factors.
Headaches
For general chronic headaches or for headaches with influenza:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Head-Ease Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 1
- Apply the Head-Ease Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 14
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Head-Ease Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 1
- Apply the Head-Ease Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 14
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Gallbladder 41
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Gallbladder 41
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Stomach 44
- Apply the Head-Ease Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 1
- Apply the Head-Ease Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 14
High Blood Pressure
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Gallbladder 41
Eyes
Redness, swelling and pain of the eyes:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Bladder 62
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 2
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Bladder 62
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 9
Pain
Muscle spasms and muscular tension:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 6
Painful obstruction and atrophy disorder of the four limbs, hemiplegia, pain of the sinews and bones, pain of the arm, contraction of the fingers, pain of the lumbar spine use The Four Gates and choose acupressure points above and below the pain on related channels, and/or on the opposite side of the issue
Pain along the radial aspect of the first finger and across dorsum of hand or to the radial and palmar areas at the base of the thumb or sprain of the thumb:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Lung 9
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Lung 10
Carpal tunnel syndrome with tendon strain of the hand:
combine acupressure point Large Intestine 4 with acupressure point Triple Burner 6 and acupressure point Pericardium 6 on the same and/or opposite hand depending on pain level of the affected hand
Nosebleed
Nosebleed, nasal congestion and discharge, sinusitis, sneezing:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 9
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Lung 7
Toothache
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 11
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 44
Tongue
Mouth ulcers, cracked painful tongue, or rigid tongue:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Heart 8
Uterine Fibroids
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 9
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 10
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 4
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Pericardium 6
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 36
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Kidney 3
- Apply the Moxa Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Ren 6
Poor Blood Circulation
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Spleen 10
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Heart 7
Face Issues
Swelling of the face or facial edema that came on slowly:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Heart 7
Bell’s Palsy with deviation of the face and mouth:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Gallbladder 41
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point San Jiao 5
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 44
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 44
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Small Intestine 3
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point San Jiao 5
Tinnitus
Sudden onset tinnitus or deafness with anger:
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Moxa Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Kidney 3
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Gallbladder 41
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point San Jiao 5
Skin Conditions
For red, itchy skin conditions such as eczema or scaly itchy psoriasis
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Liver 3
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Lung 10
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Large Intestine 11
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Heart 8
Exterior Pathogens
Exterior Wind-Cold patterns with chills and alternating fever:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Gallbladder 41
Exterior Wind-Heat patterns, sore throat and fever
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Liver 3
- Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure point Kidney 7
In the event of a sudden loss of voice with External Pathogen:
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Stomach 36
- Apply the Fire Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Heart 8
For a sore throat due to a cold
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Large Intestine 10
- Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to acupressure Point Large Intestine 11
Misc. Uses of Acupressure Point LI4
- Delayed or prolonged labor, retention of dead fetus combine acupressure point Large Intestine 4 with acupressure point GB 41 and acupressure point Spleen 6, SP10
- Dysenteric disorder, childhood nutritional impairment, childhood fright wind, wind rash, malaria, mania.
- To boost the Immune response or Wei Qi combine Large Intestine 4 with acupressure point Stomach 36 and acupressure point Lung 9
- With childhood mumps combine Large Intestine 4 with acupressure point Lung 1 and acupressure point Large Intestine 11
Other Name(s) of Acupuncture Point LI 4
- Joining of the Valleys
- Bottom of the Valley
- Tiger’s Mouth
- Uniting Bones
- Holding Mouth
- Joining Valley
Traditional Chinese Medicine Classifications of Large Intestine 4
- Qi Source point of large Intestine Channel
- Command point of the Mouth and Face Region
- Heavenly Star Point
- Entry point of Lung-7
Traditional Chinese Medicine Actions of Acupressure Point LI 4
- Clears Exterior Wind Pathogens
- Regulates the Large Intestine Channel and Relieves Pain
- Clears Heat
- Activates Wei Qi
- Regulates the face, eyes, nose, mouth and ears
- Tonification Point for Qi and Blood
- Induces Labor
- Restores the Yang
- Disperses Accumulations and Masses
Warning: Contraindicated during pregnancy
Cautions: Do not use acupressure as self-care when pregnant without the guidance of a licensed acupuncturist. Always discuss new treatment modalities with your local health care professional.
Effect of Acupuncture Manipulations at LI4 or LI11 on Blood Flow and Skin Temperature
The effect of applying pressure to the LIV3 and LI4 on the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
LI4 Acupoint Reduces CFA-Induced Inflammatory Pain via the Brain TRPV1 Signaling Pathway
Effects of LI-4 and SP-6 on Labor Pain, Cortisol Level and Duration of Labor
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.