Lung Channel

Taiyuan LU-9

Chinese: 太渊

Pinyin: Tài Yuān

Location

At the wrist crease (wrist joint space), in the depression on the radial aspect of the radial artery and ulnar to the tendon of the abductor pollicis longus muscle.

How to locate

Palpate the joint space by loosely moving the hand. Locate Yaiyuan LU-9 on the radial side of the radial artery in a depression, ulnar to the tendon of the abductor pollicis longus muscle.

Main actions

  1. Clears Phlegm
  2. Descends Lung Qi
  3. Tonifies Lung Qi and Yin
  4. Tonifies Gathering Qi
  5. Invigorates Blood circulation and harmonizes Blood Vessels
  6. Clears Lung and Liver Heat

Indications

Coughing Wheezing Copious sputum Shortness of breath Feeling of oppression of the chest

Needling

Vertical 0.2-0.5 cun. 

Caution: When palpate for LU-9, avoid the radial artery by gently pushing it to the side.  

Commentary for Taiyuan LU-9

Taiyuan LU-9 is one of the main points of the Lung Channel. It is more used for chronic, Deficient/Empty and Interior patterns, especially in the case of Lung Qi or Yin Deficiency. Nevertheless, it can still treat acute, Excess/Full or Exterior patterns, but less frequently. 

First of all, it is used to clear chronic Phlegm in the Lungs, with typical symptoms like chronic cough with sticky white watery sputum, shortness of breath or wheezing. It is because the weakened Lung Qi fails to push Body Fluids, thus Phlegm-Fluids accumulates. If the Lung Yin is Deficient, then Heat condenses Body Fluids, resulting in Dry-Phlegm in the Lungs with dry throat. 

Secondly, together with Shanzhong REN-17, LU-9 is often used to tonify Gathering Qi (the combination of Clear Air and Grain Qi) of the chest. They also tonify the Lungs and the Heart Qi which are housed in the chest. When the Gathering Qi is weak, the patients typically suffer from cold hands, weak voice, yawning and feeling of chest oppression.

The Lungs dominates the overall Qi movement of the body, while Qi is the driver of Blood circulation inside Blood vessels. Due to its being the Gathering (会 Hui) point of the Lung Channel, LU-9 is considered to have influence over all Blood Vessels and pulse. Due to this nature, TCM doctors use LU-9 and area around it to feel pulses on the radial artery. They can feel the movement of Qi within the Blood at this position. Needling this point can stimulate Blood circulation so as to treat cold limbs, chilblains and varicose veins.

The Lungs have a close relationship with the Heart. It is because the Lungs governs Qi, while the Heart controls Blood. They mutually influence each other. LU-9 tonifies Lung Qi to stimulate Heart Qi and Blood circulation in the chest. Therefore, it treats symptoms such as breathlessness on exertion, listlessness and palpitations.

Finally, it can also be used to clear Lung and Liver Heat when Liver Fire rises to the chest and then obstructs the normal Lung Qi descending.