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The Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin has eleven acupoints: Zhongfu (LU-1), Yunmen (LU-2), Tianfu (LU-3), Xiabai (LU-4), Chize (LU-5), Kongzui (LU-6), Lieque (LU-7), Jingqu (LU-8), Taiyuan (LU-9), Yuji (LU-10), and Shaoshang (LU-11).

The Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin originates at Zhongfu (LU-1). It is located approximately one cun below Yunmen (LU-2); Yunmen (LU-2) is six cun lateral to Xuanji (CV-21) and two finger-breadths below Jugu (LI-1); Tianfu (LU-3) is sought three cun below the axilla; Xiabai (LU-4) governs conditions when located five cun above the elbow crease; Chize (LU-5) is found in the center of the cubital crease; Kongzui (LU-6) is taken seven cun below the wrist crease; Lieque (LU-7) is one and a half cun above the wrist crease; Jingqu (LU-8) is located in the depression at the radial pulse (Cunkou); Taiyuan (LU-9) is at the head of the transverse crease on the palmar side of the wrist; Yuji (LU-10) can be palpated as a scattered vessel behind the first metacarpal bone joint; Shaoshang (LU-11) is at the medial tip of the thumb. Pricking this point can immediately stop epistaxis (nosebleed). (Note: Xuanji is an acupoint of the Conception Vessel; Jugu is an acupoint of the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming).

[Image: Diagram of the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming]

[Image: Diagram of the Large Intestine Fu Organ]

The sigmoid colon (Hui Chang) is named so because of its coiled and folded structure; the descending colon (Guang Chang) is the larger portion of the sigmoid colon; the rectum is the terminal segment of the descending colon, connecting downward to the anus, which is also called the grain gate (Gu Dao) or posterior yin, alternatively known as the魄门 (Po Men), collectively referred to as the Large Intestine. The descending colon is two chi eight cun long and can hold nine sheng, three he, and one-eighth of a he of grain. *Nan Jing* states that the Large Intestine weighs two jin twelve liang, and the anus weighs twelve liang. *Wei Yan* says: "Chang" (Intestine) implies smoothness/fluidity; it values unobstructed flow.

The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian corresponds to the Large Intestine. The Large Intestine is the official of transmission, responsible for transformation and excretion. Its body is two zhang one chi long, four cun wide, and one cun in diameter. It is located to the right of the umbilicus, coiling sixteen times, capable of holding one dou of grain and seven sheng and a half of water. Its upper opening connects to the lower opening of the Small Intestine. In the Heavenly Stems, it corresponds to Geng; in the Earthly Branches, it corresponds to You; in the Five Elements, it belongs to Metal; in the Eight Trigrams, it corresponds to Dui. It forms an interior-exterior relationship with the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin. This meridian has abundant Qi and Blood, which pour into it during the Mao hour (5:00–7:00 AM).

Its clinical manifestations include: toothache with swelling, yellowing of the eyes, dry mouth, epistaxis, throat obstruction, pain in the anterior shoulder, difficulty using the index finger and thumb, deafness with tinnitus sounding like bells or buzzing, and pain behind the ear, in the shoulder, elbow, and outer aspect of the arm. If Qi is stagnant and full, the skin becomes hard but painless; if Qi is excessive, the pulse is overactive leading to heat and swelling; if Qi is deficient, the pulse is insufficient leading to cold.

The pathway of this meridian originates at Shangyang (LI-1), located at the radial end of the index finger, receiving Qi and Blood from the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, and traveling through the Yang aspects. From there, it follows the upper border of the index finger, passes through Erjian (LI-2) and Sanjian (LI-3), emerges at Hegu (LI-4) between the two bones, and ascends into Yangxi (LI-5) between the two tendons. From Yangxi (LI-5), it ascends along the upper border of the forearm, passing through Pianli (LI-6), Wenliu (LI-7), Xia Lian (LI-8), Shang Lian (LI-9), and Shousanli (LI-10), entering Quchi (LI-11) at the lateral end of the elbow. It then follows the anterior border of the upper arm, passing through Zhou Liao (LI-12), Wuli (LI-13), and Binao (LI-14), connecting with the meeting point of the Triple Energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang. It ascends to the shoulder, reaching Jianyu (LI-15) of this meridian. Emerging from the anterior border of Jianyu (LI-15), it ascends along Jugu (LI-15/GB-1 area context, here referring to LI path), meeting the Dazhui (GV-14) of the Du Vessel. Descending from Dazhui (GV-14), it enters the Quepen (ST-12) of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, follows the external collateral of the Stomach Meridian, circles the Lung, descends through the diaphragm, and at the junction corresponding to Tianshu (ST-25) of the Stomach Meridian, it belongs to the Large Intestine. A branch arises from Quepen (ST-12), ascending to the neck, following Tianding (SI-14) and Futu (LI-18), ascending through the cheek, and entering the lower gum. It exits the gum, reappears flanking the corners of the mouth, crosses internally at Renzhong (GV-26), with the left channel crossing to the right and the right channel crossing to the left, ascending to flank both sides of the nostrils, following Heliao (SI-19) and Yingxiang (LI-20), where it intersects with the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It then proceeds from Chengqi (ST-1), Sibai (ST-2), Juliao (ST-3), Dicang (ST-4) to Touwei (ST-8), and descends from Touwei (ST-8).