ACUPUNCTURE
He Gu: TCM Acupoint Guide
HEGU
Name
He Gu (Hegu)
Location
On the dorsum of the hand, between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone and close to the radial border. Note: ask the patient to squeeze the thumb against the index finger and locate the point at the highest point of the bulge of the muscle, approximately level with the end of the crease. With the thumb and index finger extended and stretched apart, the point lies slightly to the index finger side of the area between the first and second metacarpal bones.
Needling
- Perpendicular insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: local discomfort and soreness.
- Oblique insertion directed proximally, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Slanted insertion along the surface of the second metacarpal, 1 to 1.5 cun, for diseases affecting the head. Sensation: soreness, possibly extending to the elbow or shoulder.
- Join to PC-8 or SI-3 for muscle spasm or paralysis of the fingers.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Yuan-source point of the Large Intestine channel
- Gan Wu Command point
- Ma Dan-yang Heavenly Star point
- Ma Wang Tang Twelve-Star point
- Center Reunion General Point for Yang
Actions
- Regulates the Defensive (Wei) Qi and consolidates the Exterior
- Adjusts sweating
- Reduces fever
- Tonifies Qi
- Facilitates Qi flow
- Expels Wind of Cold, Heat and Dryness
- Releases the Exterior
- Clears Summerheat
- Stimulates the dispersing function of the Lungs
- Harmonizes ascending and descending qi
- Regulates the face, eyes, nose, mouth and ears
- Activates the channel
- Alleviates pain
- Induces labor
- Restores Yang
- Clears Heat and Fire
- Moistens Dryness
- Transforms Damp-Heat
- Transforms Phlegm, Phlegm-Damp, Cold Phlegm and Dry Phlegm
- Generates fluids
- Relieves Stagnation in the Intestines
- Activates intestinal function
- Inhibits peristalsis of the Stomach and relaxes its spasms and pyloric sphincter
Indications
- Exterior Wind-Cold patterns
- Wind-Heat attacks the Wei level and Lungs
- Chills and fever
- Alternating chills and fever
- Injury by Cold with great thirst
- Copious sweating
- Anhidrosis
- Febrile disease with anhidrosis
- A floating pulse
- Headache
- Frontal headache
- One-sided headache
- Headache of the whole head
- Hypertension
- Throat Bi
- Childhood throat moth
- Pediatric sore throat
- Mumps
- Loss of voice
- Swelling of the face
- Deviation of the face, mouth and eyes
- Lockjaw
- Lockjaw due to stroke
- Deafness
- Tinnitus
- Dysenteric disorder
- Constipation
- Childhood nutritional impairment
- Childhood fright Wind
- Wind rash
- Malaria
- Malaria without sweating
- Mania
- Pain of the lumbar spine
- Diseases of the sensory organs
- Hemiplegia
- Generalized pain
- Throat blockage
- Abortion
- Allergic rhinitis
- Sinusitis
- Gingivitis
- Neuralgia of the shoulder
- Keratoleukoma
- Cataracts
- Cough
- Abdominal pain
- Infantile paralysis
- Heat Bi
- Otitis media
- Bronchitis
- Appendicitis with fever
- Goiter
- Furuncles
- Collapsing syndrome
- Glaucoma
- Strabismus
- Blurred vision
- Spots before the eyes
- Neuralgia of the head
- Dental abscess
- Continual epistaxis
- Sore throat
- White spots on the throat
- Pain inside the spinal column and the renal region
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Redness, swelling and pain of the eyes
- Eye membrane disorders
- Dizziness of vision
- Superficial visual obstruction
- Epistaxis
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal discharge
- Rhinitis
- Sneezing
- Toothache
- Tooth decay and pain of the teeth in the lower jaw
- Mouth ulcers
- Lotus flower tongue
- Cracked tongue
- Rigid tongue
- Lips do not close
- Tightness of the lips
- Lips flaccid
- Amenorrhea
- Prolonged labor
- Delayed labor
- Retention of dead fetus
- Painful obstruction and atrophy disorder of the four limbs
- Aphonia
- Cannot talk
- Pain of the sinews and bones
- Pain of the arm
- Pain of the shoulder and back
- Contraction of the fingers
- Common Cold
- Facial paralysis
- Neurasthenia
- Tidal fevers
- Fever after catching cold with great thirst
- Scabies
- Windstroke
- Conjunctivitis
- Styes
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Myopia
- Nasosinusitis
- Nasal polyps
- Swelling and pain of the pharynx and larynx
- Tonsillitis
- Stiffness of the spinal column
- Pain of the spine
- Atrophy syndrome of the upper body
- Upper Jiao wasting and thirsting syndrome
- Qi-type painful urinary dysfunction
- Pertussis
- Asthma
- Infantile diarrhea
- Lymphangitis
- Scrofula
- Coma
- Fever due to Summerheat
- Sudden blindness
- Tension
- Insomnia
- Migraine
- Hardness of hearing
- Facial edema
- Ding boil (Ding chuang)
- Thick coating on the tongue
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| KI-7 Fuliu | No sweating (reinforce LI-4, reduce KI-7); copious sweating (reduce LI-4, reinforce KI-7) |
| LI-11 Quchi | High fever of any etiology; diseases of the head, face, mouth, nose, eyes and ears; unilateral Wind rash |
| LI-11 Quchi, LI-15 Jianyu | Pain, paralysis or atrophy of the upper limbs |
| LIV-3 Taichong | Cold and Heat with painful obstruction; nasal polyps; nasal congestion and discharge; unendurable pain of the arm that radiates to the shoulder and spine |
| ST-44 Neiting, KI-7 Fuliu, M-HN-30 Bailao | Injury by Cold with anhidrosis (reinforce LI-4 and reduce ST-44 and KI-7); injury by Cold with sweating (reduce LI-4 and ST-44 and reinforce KI-7) |
| LI-11 Quchi, GB-39 Xuanzhong, ST-36 Zusanli, DU-14 Dazhui, KI-1 Yongquan | Injury by Cold with great Heat that does not recede |
| PC-1 Tianchi, GB-1 Tongziliao, LU-10 Yuji, ST-2 Sibai, GB-9 Tianchong, UB-22 Sanjiaoshu, GB-20 Fengchi | Headache |
| SJ-23 Sizhukong, GB-20 Fengchi | One-sided headache, generalized headache |
| DU-20 Baihui, DU-21 Qianding, DU-24 Shenting, DU-23 Shangxing, SJ-23 Sizhukong, GB-20 Fengchi, UB-2 Zanzhu, ST-8 Touwei | One-sided head Wind |
| ST-40 Fenglong, ST-41 Jiexi, GB-20 Fengchi | Head Wind and dizziness |
| GB-14 Yangbai, ST-41 Jiexi | Head Wind with splitting headache and pain in the eye and between the eyebrows |
| DU-19 Houding, DU-20 Baihui | Pain of the head and nape |
| SI-6 Yangliao, UB-4 Quchai | Dizziness of vision |
| GB-1 Tongziliao, GB-41 Zulinqi, UB-1 Jingming | Internal eye obstruction |
| UB-1 Jingming, GB-37 Guangming | Eye diseases |
| UB-1 Jingming, ST-2 Sibai | Superficial visual obstruction |
| KI-1 Yongquan, GB-35 Yangjiao | Loss of voice |
| LU-11 Shaoshang, REN-22 Tiantu | Swollen, painful throat |
| GB-15 Toulinqi, LIV-3 Taichong | Red eyes, epistaxis |
| LU-3 Tianfu | Epistaxis |
| UB-12 Fengmen, DU-24 Shenting, UB-2 Zanzhu, LI-20 Yingxiang, UB-67 Zhiyin, KI-20 Futonggu | Rhinitis with clear nasal discharge |
| GB-41 Zulinqi, UB-63 Jinmen | Deafness |
| SJ-17 Yifeng, SJ-21 Ermen | Purulent ear sores |
| GB-2 Tinghui, ST-6 Jiache | Swelling, pain and redness of the ear |
| LI-20 Yingxiang | Itching and swelling of the face |
| LU-1 Zhongfu, PC-5 Jiaoshi | Swelling of the face and abdomen |
| ST-6 Jiache, ST-4 Dicang, DU-26 Renzhong, REN-24 Chengjiang, GB-2 Tinghui | Deviation of the mouth and eye |
| PC-5 Jiaoshi, SI-3 Houxi | Sudden mania |
| LU-10 Yuji, SI-7 Zhizheng, HT-3 Shaohai, LI-11 Quchi, SI-4 Wangu | Manic raving with fear and fright |
| ST-6 Jiache, DU-26 Renzhong, DU-20 Baihui, REN-24 Chengjiang | Lockjaw following Windstroke |
| DU-26 Renzhong, PC-9 Zhongchong, or DU-15 Yamen, LIV-1 Dadun | Loss of consciousness from Windstroke |
| SP-6 Sanyinjiao, LIV-3 Taichong | Difficult delivery (reinforce LI-4 and reduce the others) |
| SI-1 Shaoze, REN-17 Shanzhong | Absence of lactation |
| UB-25 Dachangshu, DU-20 Baihui, DU-1 Changqiang, GB-21 Jianjing, ST-30 Qichong | Rectal prolapse |
| ST-36 Zusanli, UB-29 Zhonglushu | Dysenteric disorder |
| SP-8 Diji | Acute dysmenorrhea |
| GB-20 Fengchi | Common Cold |
| PC-6 Neiguan | Anesthesia for various purposes |
| LU-7 Lieque | Wind-Cold attacks the Lungs |
| UB-59 Fuyang | Removes poisons and toxins from the mind and body |
| LI-15 Jianyu | Acupuncture anesthesia, acupuncture blackout |
Contraindications
Both acupuncture and moxibustion on this point are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Notes
One of the best known and most commonly used acupuncture points, and the most commonly used point for analgesia. It is the main point to release the Exterior and expel Wind-Heat. This point causes peripheral dilation. It is used for ****** addiction, which is why it is called the opium point. It affects the thyroid. It is used for first aid for earache, poisoning, dull pain and acupuncture blackout. The combination of LI-4 Hegu and UB-59 Fuyang is known as the Great Eliminator, especially for mental disorders. It eventually brings calmness to the body and mind. It is an important revival point and a Greater Assembly point for the throat and neck. This is "the" point for all facial symptoms, and it has a very powerful force for the elimination of toxins, bad thoughts, feces and poisons.
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.
Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.
Did this article help you?
Your answer shapes what gets rewritten next.
Keep readingRelated entries
Shen Ting: TCM Acupoint Guide
Shen Ting (Shenting). On the midline of the head, 0.5 cun directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline, 0.5 cun posterior to the hairline and 0.5.
Dan Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
Dan Shu (Danshu). 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the tenth thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral to DU-7 Zhongshu. Note: locate.
Tian Chuang: TCM Acupoint Guide
Tian Chuang (Tianchuang) is 3.5 cun lateral to the laryngeal prominence, at the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid. Window of Heaven point..
Pi Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
Pi Shu (Pishu). 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra, at the same level as DU-6 Jizhong. Note.
Something this article did not cover?
Ask us directly. We reply within two days, and good questions become public articles.
Ask a question →