ACUPUNCTURE
Lao Gong: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Lao Gong (Laogong)
Location
In the center of the palm, between the second and third metacarpal bones but close to the latter, in the part touched by the tip of the middle finger when a fist is made. Note: with the palm facing upward, the point lies on the radial side of the third metacarpal bone, proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint.
Needling
- Straight insertion, about 0.5 cun, causing local distention and pain.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Horary point
- Fire point
- Ying-spring point
- Sun Si-miao Ghost point
Actions
- Cools the Heart
- Clears Heat from the Pericardium
- Revives consciousness
- Drains Heat
- Calms the Shen
- Harmonizes the Stomach
- Clears Heat from the Middle Jiao
- Clears the Ying
- Cools the Blood
Indications
- Hematuria
- Hemafecia
- Bleeding hemorrhoids
- Bleeding gums
- Excessive thirst
- Anorexia
- Fever with no sweat
- Much anger
- Frustration
- Mania-depression
- Sadness
- Depression
- Bad breath
- Furuncle in the mouth
- Ulceration of the gums in children
- Coma from stroke
- Heat exhaustion
- Angina pectoris
- Stomatitis
- Frightened fainting among infants
- Hysteria
- Mental illness
- Excessive sweating of the palms
- Numb fingers
- Closed-type Windstroke
- Collapsing syndrome due to Excess
- Stroke
- Heatstroke
- Incoherent speech
- Cardiac pain
- Epilepsy
- Gastritis
- Nausea
- Apprehension
- Restless Zang disorder
- Hematemesis
- Ceaseless nosebleed
- Dark urine
- Yellow eyes
- Throat pain
- Diabetes
- Writer's cramp
- Chronic asthma with poor circulation
- Poor memory
- Direct attack by Wind
- Laughs without stopping
- Bi pain of the hand
- Fright
- Anxiety
- Pain in the flanks
- Epistaxis
- Dyspnea
- Vomiting
- Nervousness
- Sensation of swelling in the chest and flanks
- Mental fatigue
- Skin problems
- Chest pain
- Inability to swallow food
- Jaundice
- Hand tremors
- Swan hand
- Madness
- Ulcerated oral cavity
- Febrile diseases
- Headache
- Gingivitis
- Halitosis
- Thirst
- Chest and hypochondriac fullness and pain
- Fungal infection of the hands and feet
- Loss of consciousness
- Hypertension
- Propensity to anger
- Cough
- Erosion of the mouth and tongue in children
- Hypogastric masses
- Tremor of the hand
- Eczema and tinea of the hand
- Heat in the palm of the hand
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| DU-26 Renzhong, LI-4 Hegu joined to PC-8 Laogong | Hysteria |
| PC-7 Daling | Mild depression, incessant laughter, oppression of the Heart |
| KI-1 Yongquan | The five types of epilepsy |
| LI-19 Kouheliao, DU-27 Duiduan | Incessant nosebleed |
| REN-24 Chengjiang | Mouth ulcers |
| SI-1 Shaoze, LI-3 Sanjian, LIV-3 Taichong | Erosion, Heat and dryness of the mouth |
| DU-16 Fengfu, SI-16 Tianchuang | Throat pain |
| UB-48 Yanggang, LIV-14 Qimen, LU-11 Shaoshang | Difficult ingestion |
| LU-11 Shaoshang | Vomiting |
Contraindications
This point is forbidden during the third month of pregnancy. Some sources say that moxibustion is contraindicated on this point.
Notes
This point is good for a person who is miserable and cannot share love or affection. One of the most powerful points on the body, it brings hope. It causes the energy of the Heart to leap up, and is used for very cold physical conditions. It is the most effective point on the Pericardium channel to clear Heart Fire, particularly when stagnant Liver Fire transmits to the Heart.
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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