Large Intestine 4 is one of the most important and influential acupoints in the entire body. The Chinese name for Large Intestine 4 is “He Gu” meaning union valley or converging valley. The point is located on the hand in the web between the thumb and index finger, also described as the depression where the index finger and thumb bones part. This area of the hand is often described as “valley like” hence the name converging valley.

 

The large intestine has many important functions in the body. Connected to the Western medicine function of the Large Intestine, it is vital in digestion and bowel regulation, but it also has many functions above and beyond that in Chinese medicine. The large intestine is associated with the emotions of sadness and grief, it can help build immunity as it works as a paired channel to the lung meridian and has a big effect on the flow of Qi and blood in the body.

Large Intestine 4 is a strong point for building the immune system and can be used for when someone has a cold or a virus like the flu. It can be used to treat febrile illnesses, rashes from wind or heat, allergic reactions causing rhinitis, as well as sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. It is the command point of the face, nose, jaw, and mouth and can be used to treat many problems associated with those. Toothaches and TMJ can be painful, but Large Intestine 4 can reduce the pain without even going near the affected areas. It is one of the main points for headaches and many people instinctively press it on their hands when they have a headache, without even realizing it is an acupuncture point. If someone has suffered a stroke, this point can help with paralysis and aid in recovery.

The large Intestine has a great effect on the flow of qi and blood in the body and Large Intestine 4 is a very strong point to get everything moving. Pain, according to Chinese medicine, is often described as Qi and blood being stagnant or “stuck” and Large Intestine 4 is critical to move this stagnation, especially when coupled with another point called Liver 3. Together, this pair of points is called The Four Gates and together they are a powerhouse in getting the Qi and blood circulated. They can effectively treat pain, depression, constipation, promote labor, expel the retained placenta, and help alleviate menstrual disorders caused by stagnation such as endometriosis.

Large Intestine 4 is contraindicated in pregnancy because it is so powerful and moving, but it can be effectively used to induce labor. Used in conjunction with another powerhouse acupuncture point Spleen 6, these two points are commonly used together to start labor, often with electroacupuncture to stimulate the points even more than needles alone.

Once labor has started, Large Intestine 4 can be used if labor is stalled or prolonged as well as used after childbirth to expel the placenta, decrease postpartum bleeding and decrease the time between childbirth and the discharge of the placenta.

Large Intestine 4 is an exceedingly influential point and one of the most commonly used points in acupuncture treatments. It can also be effective in treating a range of emotional issues such as depression, insomnia, stress, irritability, and severe PMS. This point should not be under-estimated, and its alternative name of Tiger’s Mouth is barely descriptive of its strength in acupuncture treatments. 

 

In 2016 a study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showing Acupuncture, more specifically Elecroacupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for Chronic severe functional Constipation. This study was conducted in 15 hospital in china. The patients had chronic severe functional constipation and no underlying pathological causes for the constipation. Each patient received 28 sessions of Electroacupuncture. The results of the study showed that each participant increased the number of consistent bowel movements with assistance of electroacupuncture treatments and without any adverse side effect.

In Western medicine the arge intestine is responsible for absorbing water from indigestible food and transporting the useless waste material that comes out of the body. This is the second to the last step of the digestive tract in the human body. In Chinese medicine we look at it a bit differently, the large intestine is both an organ and an entity.

The large intestine channel is associated with the emotions of sadness, loss, grief, guilt and stagnation.

These can lead to pathologies that make it difficult for one to go with the flow of everyday life. When these emotions become severe, then the body can show this as constipation, diarrhea and lower abdominal cramping. Imbalance in the lower intestine can also lead to physical weakness, at the same time provoking emotional responses that then produce instant defecation due to the body’s natural reflex reaction.

An imbalance affecting the large intestine are quite frequent in today’s society, cause by excessive stress and constant worry. Chronic stress and worry will stimulate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which is responsible for the heart rate, it increases the intestinal and glands activities and relaxes the sphincter muscles that control the gastrointestinal tract. When the PNS is constantly stimulated, the body is unable to rest and digest. This will lead to some of the aforementioned symptoms, diseases and ailments that trouble the large intestine.

TCM can help a person who is dealing with pathologies of the large intestine safely and naturally. TCM uses several techniques for treating ailments within the body. The most common of these techniques is acupuncture. Acupuncture uses hair-thin, stainless steel solid needles to stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself. Acupuncture works by stimulating the sensory neurons that communicates with the central nervous system (CNS). This helps the body to use it’s self-defense to bring harmony and balance back to itself.

Suffering from gastrointestinal ailments doesn’t have to be a normal part of life. Help is closer then you think. If you or someone you know suffers from Gastrointestinal ailments, come in or call us to see how we can help you live a life free of your Gastrointestinal ailment. www.luhealthcenter.com

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Master Lu has been practicing Acupuncture and Chinese martial arts for over 40 years. He was one of the first Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of Utah. He was trained in Taiwan in both Acupuncture and Chinese martial arts mainly Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Old Yang Style Tai Chi. Master Lu was also twice national champion for full contact fighting in Taiwan.

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