ACUPUNCTURE
Da Du: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Da Du (Dadu)
Location
On the medial aspect of the big toe, slightly anterior to the metatarsophalangeal joint, at the border of the light and dark skin.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Oblique inferior insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.1 to 0.3 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Ying-spring point
- Fire point
- Tonification point
- Mother point
Actions
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Promotes digestion
- Clears Heat
- Regulates the Spleen
- Resolves Dampness
- Resolves Damp-Heat
- Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Indications
- Fever
- Abdominal distention
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
- Edema of the limbs
- Apoplectic coma
- Sudden swelling of the four limbs
- Heaviness of the body with pain of the bones
- Oppression of the chest
- Agitation when hungry and dizziness when full
- Sudden turmoil disorder
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Heart pain
- Febrile disease that does not disperse
- Injury by Cold leading to hands and feet in counterflow Cold
- Visual dizziness
- Gastric pain
- Constipation
- Febrile diseases with anhidrosis
- Restlessness with insomnia
- Sensation of heaviness of the body with swelling of the extremities
- Sensation of fullness and tightness in the chest
- Vomiting
- Epigastric pain
- Poor digestion
- Belching
- Borborygmus
- Lumbar pain with inability to turn
- Disorders of the big toe
- Heat sensation in the soles of the feet
- Joint pain
- Nervousness
- Vertigo
- Pain and swelling of the ankle
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| SP-3 Taibai, LIV-2 Xingjian | Disorders of the big toe |
| UB-6 Chengguang | Vomiting |
| LU-8 Jingqu | Febrile disease with anhidrosis |
| SP-3 Taibai | Pain of the Heart and epigastrium |
| KI-11 Henggu | Stagnation of qi, lumbar pain with inability to stand |
Contraindications
According to some sources, moxibustion is forbidden during pregnancy.
Notes
This point is primarily used to clear Heat, especially at the beginning stage of a febrile disease. This point is good for intellectual energy, and has shown to strengthen mathematical abilities in children by stimulating the brain. It relates to the thymus. This point is not used much in China. French research says this point clears mucus from the Spleen and is good for hemophilia.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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