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Module 6   Lesson 18   Zu Jueyin Gan Jing

Liver: LR-1 to LR-14

How does a channel of only fourteen points give each of the five Liver patterns a point of its own?

After this lesson you can follow the pathway from the big toe to the flank and, internally, to the vertex; you know all fourteen points with name and category; and you can link the five Liver patterns from module 1 to LR-3, LR-2, LR-8, LR-13 and LR-14.

Foot-Jueyin, 14 points bottom to top; dotted: internal LR-1 Dadun: Jing-Well (Wood) LR-2 Xingjian: Ying-Spring (Fire) LR-3 Taichong: Shu-Stream, Yuan LR-4 Zhongfeng: Jing-River LR-5 Ligou: Luo LR-6 Zhongdu: Xi-Cleft LR-7 Xiguan LR-8 Ququan: He-Sea (Water) LR-9 Yinbao LR-10 Zuwuli LR-11 Yinlian LR-12 Jimai LR-13 Zhangmen: Front-Mu Spleen, Hui Zang LR-14 Qimen: Front-Mu Liver internal: Liver and Gall-Bladder throat eyes vertex: meets the Du at GV-20 Foot LR-1 to LR-4; starts at the big toe Lower leg, inside LR-5 to LR-7; crosses Spleen at SP-6 Knee, thigh and groin LR-8 to LR-12; around the genitals and lower abdomen (crosses the Ren) Flank and chest LR-13, LR-14 branch to the Lungs, LU-1: the circuit of twelve closes
Schematic, no point location: equal spacing per point. Pathway in broad outline from textbook knowledge, with the internal branch to the vertex from module 1, lesson 14; the book describes the channel at the start of ch. 65 (p. 1119).

Know by heart

  • The channel. Foot-Jueyin, 14 points; partner the Gall-Bladder, level partner the Pericardium. From the big toe along the inside of the leg, around the genitals, to flank and chest; internally to throat, eyes and vertex; passes the Qi on to the Lungs. mnemonic: toe, groin, flank; then on the inside to throat, eye and vertex.
  • Shu points. LR-1 Jing-Well, LR-2 Ying-Spring, LR-3 Shu-Stream and Yuan, LR-4 Jing-River, LR-8 He-Sea. mnemonic: one, two, three, four on the foot; then jump to the knee: eight.
  • The other categories. LR-5 Luo; LR-6 Xi-Cleft; LR-13 Front-Mu of the Spleen and Hui of the Zang; LR-14 Front-Mu of the Liver. The Back-Shu point lies on the Bladder: BL-18.
  • Five patterns, five points. 1 stagnation: LR-3 and LR-14; 2 Fire: LR-2; 3 rising Yang: LR-3; 4 Blood deficiency: LR-8; 5 Liver invading the Spleen: LR-13. mnemonic: flow 3, fire 2, empty 8, Spleen 13, flank 14.
  • LR-3 Taichong. Shu-Stream and Yuan; move Liver-Qi, subdue Liver-Yang; textbook knowledge: also extinguish Liver-Wind and calm the Mind. With LI-4 the Four Gates.
  • Lower Burner. LR-1 hernia, genitals, uterine bleeding; LR-5 genital itching and Damp-Heat; LR-8 nourish Liver-Blood, Dampness in the Lower Burner. mnemonic: the channel circles the genitals: 1, 5 and 8.
  • Red flags. Acute pain in the scrotum or groin, jaundice, bleeding after the menopause, a red painful eye with blurred vision, low mood with suicidal thoughts: see a doctor first.

The rest of this lesson is reference.

Liver: LR-1 to LR-14: How does a channel of only fourteen points give each of the five Liver patterns a point of its own?
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Three practice questions from this lesson

How many points does the Liver channel have, and at which level does it lie?
  1. 14, Foot-Jueyin
  2. 27, Foot-Shaoyin
  3. 14, Foot-Shaoyang

Answer: 14, Foot-Jueyin. 14 points, Foot-Jueyin. Foot-Shaoyang is the partner Gall-Bladder; Foot-Shaoyin is the Kidneys, with 27 points.

The Ying-Spring point of the Liver, which clears Liver-Fire?
  1. LR-2
  2. LR-14
  3. LR-3

Answer: LR-2. LR-2 Xingjian: Ying-Spring, the Fire point on a Yin channel. LR-3 is Shu-Stream and Yuan, LR-14 the Front-Mu of the Liver.

Which point is both the Front-Mu of the Spleen and the Hui of the Zang?
  1. CV-12 Zhongwan
  2. GB-34 Yanglingquan
  3. LR-13 Zhangmen

Answer: LR-13 Zhangmen. LR-13 Zhangmen. GB-34 is the Hui of the sinews; CV-12 is the Front-Mu of the Stomach and the Hui of the Fu.

The rest of this lesson

In the course you get the step-by-step explanation, 18 case-based practice questions, 18 spaced-repetition flashcards, the pitfalls and the bridge to physiology with evidence grades. This lesson belongs to module 6: Points.

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