ACUPUNCTURE
Tai Chong: TCM Acupoint Guide
TAICHONG
Name
Tai Chong (Taichong)
Location
On the dorsum of the foot, in the hollow distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones. Note: on the foot, 1.5 to 2 cun above the web, between the first and second toes.
Needling
- Slanted insertion toward KI-1 Yongquan at the bottom of the foot, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: local soreness and distention, or an electric, numb sensation extending toward the bottom of the foot.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Shu-stream point of the Liver channel
- Yuan-source point of the Liver channel
- Earth point of the Liver channel
- Ma Dan-yang Heavenly Star point
- Independent Associated point for spasms
- Sedation point
Actions
- Spreads Liver Qi
- Pacifies the Liver
- Subdues Liver Yang
- Extinguishes Liver Wind due to Blood Deficiency
- Regulates and tonifies the Liver
- Nourishes Liver Blood and Liver Yin
- Clears the head and eyes
- Regulates menstruation
- Regulates the Lower Jiao
- Regulates the Blood
- Opens the channel
- Stops pain
- Calms the Mind
- Calms spasms
Indications
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Numbness of the head
- Congestion
- Opisthotonis
- Contraction of the sinews of the hands and feet
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy with a goat sound
- Childhood fright Wind
- Deviation of the mouth
- Tetany
- Hypertension
- Distention and pain of the lateral costal region
- Inability to catch the breath all day long
- Sighing
- Pain of the Liver and Heart
- Heart pain with a wiry pulse
- Swelling of the axilla
- Distention of the Heart
- Breast pain
- Epigastric pain
- Epigastric pain with a tight pulse
- Abdominal pain
- Periumbilical pain
- Pain and fullness of the hypogastrium
- Shan disorder
- Shan disorder in children
- Swollen testicles
- Pain of the genitals
- Emaciation
- Jing Deficiency in men
- Seminal emission
- Qi Insufficiency
- Lumbar pain radiating to the lower abdomen
- Lumbar pain
- Pain of the inner and outer knee
- Pain of the lower leg
- Cold sensations of the knees and feet
- Cold feet
- Pasty stools
- Pain in the penis
- Swelling sensation of the chest
- Hemoptysis
- Axillary adenopathy
- Swelling of the lips
- Colic
- Neuralgia of the chest, flanks and loins
- Mastitis
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- Enteritis
- Muscular spasms
- Hepatitis
- Thrombocytopenia
- Ejaculation does not stop during coitus
- Plague and epidemic diseases in general
- Pale face and eyes
- Retracted scrotum
- Agitation
- Migraines
- Orchitis
- Hyperthyroidism with flushed face
- Frigidity
- Glaucoma
- Parietal headache
- Collapsing syndrome due to Liver Qi Stagnation
- Bi syndrome pain
- Insomnia
- Easily fearful
- Blurred vision
- Cloudy vision
- Redness, swelling and pain of the eyes
- Cracked lips
- Distention of the throat
- Dry throat with a desire to drink
- Intestinal Heat with thirst
- Low grade fever
- Death-like green complexion
- Amenorrhea
- Irregular menstruation
- Incessant uterine bleeding
- Uterine prolapse
- Ceaseless and profuse sweating after childbirth
- Insufficient lactation
- Enuresis
- Difficult urination
- Retention of urine
- Painful urinary dysfunction
- Urinary incontinence
- The five Lin
- Deficiency-taxation edema
- Jaundice
- Vomiting
- Hematemesis
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Constipation with hemafecia
- Difficult defecation
- Borborygmus
- Diarrhea with thin stools
- Bloody diarrhea
- Dysenteric disorder
- Hemafecia
- Flaccidity and weakness of the legs
- Inability to walk
- Pain of the inner malleolus
- Pain of the anterior internal ankle
- Swelling of the elbow
- Ashen facial color
- Scrotal hernia
- Excessive thirst
- Painful menstruation
- Convulsions
- Vertigo
- Chest and rib pain
- Breast abscess
- Intestinal hemorrhage
- Urethritis
- Nephritis
- Soreness of the joints and extremities
- Facial edema
- Yin tuberculosis
- Insensitivity of the ends of the fingers
- Hematuria
- Easily angered
- Stomach pain
- Depression
- Chronic white vaginal discharge
- Menopausal syndrome
- Hiccups
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Morning sickness
- Restless fetus disorder
- Intercostal neuralgia
- TMJ disorders
- Wind-predominant Bi
- Hernia pain
- Pain of the ribs, sides and chest
- Facial paralysis
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| GB-15 Toulinqi, LI-4 Hegu | Red eyes, epistaxis |
| LI-4 Hegu | Nasal congestion and discharge, nasal polyps, Cold and Heat with painful obstruction, unendurable pain of the arm that radiates to the shoulder and spine; expels Wind from the face, for facial paralysis and tic |
| ST-16 Yingchuang | Swelling of the lips |
| PC-6 Neiguan, REN-7 Yinjiao | Cracked and bleeding tongue |
| PC-8 Laogong, SI-1 Shaoze, LI-3 Sanjian | Erosion, Heat and dryness of the mouth |
| DU-20 Baihui (needle first), KI-6 Zhaohai, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Most types of acute throat pain |
| LIV-2 Xingjian | Dry throat with a desire to drink; pain of the Liver and Heart; pain of the Heart with a green complexion like death; inability to catch the breath all day long |
| KI-7 Fuliu | Breast pain |
| GB-43 Xiaxi, GB-38 Yangfu | Swelling and saber lumps of the axilla |
| SP-3 Taibai | Abdominal distention leading to back pain |
| UB-23 Shenshu, UB-52 Zhishi, UB-64 Jinggu | Genital pain |
| LIV-1 Dadun | The seven kinds of Shan disorder |
| KI-8 Jiaoxin, KI-10 Yingu, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Profuse and ceaseless uterine bleeding |
| HT-8 Shaofu, KI-6 Zhaohai, LIV-8 Ququan | Uterine prolapse |
| SP-6 Sanyinjiao, LI-4 Hegu (reinforce) | Difficult delivery |
| REN-2 Qugu (7 moxa cones), REN-4 Guanyuan, KI-7 Fuliu, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, ST-25 Tianshu (100 moxa cones) | Red and white leukorrhea |
| UB-33 Zhongliao, REN-5 Shimen, UB-57 Chengshan, REN-12 Zhongwan, KI-3 Taixi, KI-4 Dazhong, UB-56 Chengjin | Difficulty defecating |
| LIV-8 Ququan | Diarrhea with thin stools, dysenteric disorder with Blood in the stools |
| REN-8 Shenque, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Diarrhea with thin stools |
| UB-40 Weizhong, UB-57 Chengshan, UB-58 Feiyang, GB-38 Yangfu, KI-7 Fuliu, GB-43 Xiaxi, REN-6 Qihai, REN-1 Huiyin, DU-1 Changqiang | The five types of hemorrhoids |
| UB-57 Chengshan, KI-7 Fuliu, SP-3 Taibai | Hemafecia |
| UB-23 Shenshu (moxa) | Deficiency-taxation edema (100 moxa cones on LIV-3 Taichong) |
| SP-11 Jimen, HT-5 Tongli, LIV-1 Dadun, UB-28 Pangguangshu, UB-40 Weizhong, HT-7 Shenmen | Enuresis |
| LIV-2 Xingjian, REN-24 Chengjiang, M-HN-20 Jinjin-Yuye, DU-26 Renzhong, REN-23 Lianquan, LI-11 Quchi, PC-8 Laogong, SP-5 Shangqiu, KI-2 Rangu, SP-1 Yinbai | Wasting and thirsting disorder |
| GB-34 Yanglingquan, ST-42 Chongyang, GB-40 Qiuxu | Flaccidity of the legs |
| ST-45 Lidui (moxa), GB-31 Fengshi (moxa) | Weakness of the legs (moxa LIV-3 Taichong) |
| ST-36 Zusanli, LIV-4 Zhongfeng | Inability to walk |
| LIV-4 Zhongfeng | Difficulty walking |
| LI-11 Quchi, LI-4 Hegu, ST-36 Zusanli | Soreness of the joints of the extremities |
Notes
This point comprises two of the Four Gates. It has a sedative action and is similar in action to LIV-2 Xingjian, but more for Liver Yang than Liver Fire. This is a total relaxation point. It affects the parathyroid, pancreas and ovaries. This point cleanses the Liver and is good for detoxing from alcohol, drugs and chocolate.
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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