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Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian Diagram

In the chapter "Ping Ren Jue Gu" (Normal People Fasting from Grain), Bo Gao said: The Hui Chang (coiled intestine) has a diameter of four cun, an internal diameter of one cun and one-third cun (a small part of one cun), and a length of two zhang and one chi. It can hold one sheng of grain and seven and a half sheng of water. The Nan Jing states: The Large Intestine weighs two jin and twelve liang. According to notes: The Straight Intestine is called Zhi; thus, the Large Intestine, which coils and accumulates around, should be called Hui.

The Nan Jing states: The Large Intestine is the official of conduction, where changes emerge. The Ling Shu · Ben Cang chapter states: The intestines correspond to the skin. Those with thick skin have thick large intestines; those with thin skin have thin large intestines; those with loose skin and large abdomens have large and long large intestines; those with tight skin have urgent and short large intestines; those with smooth skin have straight large intestines; those whose skin and flesh are inseparable have knotted large intestines.

There are twenty acupoints in the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. They follow Shangyang, Erjian, and Sanjian, passing through the Shu points of Hegu and Yangxi, crossing Pianli and Wenliu, descending near Xialian, Shanglian, and Sanli, covering the distance of Quchi, Zhouliao, and Wuli, traversing Jianyu and Jugu on the arm, ascending to Tianding, winding around Futu, Heliao connecting to the lip, and Yingxiang approaching the nose.

Shangyang is located on the medial side of the index finger. Erjian is found at the proximal end of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Sanjian is taken in the depression distal to the joint. Hegu is between the divergent bones of the tiger's mouth. Yangxi is in the center of the wrist on the radial side. Pianli is secured two cun posterior to the wrist crease. Wenliu is five cun posterior to the wrist crease. Xialian is seen five cun anterior to Quchi. Shanglian is in the middle three cun anterior to Quchi. Sanli is encountered two cun anterior to Quchi. Quchi ends at the radial end of the cubital crease. Zhouliao is near the lateral margin of the great bone of the elbow. Wuli is sought in the center of the large tendon. Moving inward three cun above the elbow locates Bi'nao. Armiao is measured seven cun above the elbow. Jianliao is taken when raising the arm at the shoulder tip. Jugu ascends from the apex of the shoulder. Tianding is truly four cun beside the throat. Futu is three cun beside Tiantu. Heliao is five fen beside Shuigou. Yingxiang is one cun above Heliao. The acupoints of the Large Intestine Meridian are naturally distinct. (Forty acupoints in total, left and right.)

Diagram of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian

The meridian originates at the sides of the nose, intersecting in the forehead, approximating the Taiyang meridian laterally, descending along the lateral aspect of the nose, ascending into the teeth, emerging again to flank the mouth and encircle the lips, descending to intersect at Chengjiang, then following the post-mental mandibular border, exiting at Daying, following Jiache, ascending anterior to the ear, passing through Guest Master (Tongziliao), following the hairline, reaching the frontal skull. Its branch descends from anterior to Daying to Renying, follows the throat, enters the Supraclavicular Fossa (Quepen), descends through the diaphragm, connects with the Stomach, and networks with the Spleen. Its main trunk descends from the Supraclavicular Fossa along the medial aspect of the breast, descends flanking the umbilicus, and enters the Qi Street (Qichong). Another branch originates from the stomach opening, descends along the abdominal interior, reaches Qichong to merge, then descends to Biguan, reaches Futu, descends to the kneecap (Bin), follows the lateral aspect of the tibia, descends to the dorsum of the foot, and enters the space between the toes of the middle finger. Another branch separates three cun below the knee, descends into the lateral space between the toes of the middle finger. Another branch separates on the dorsum of the foot, enters the space between the big toe, and emerges at its tip. When moved, it causes disease characterized by shivering chills, frequent groaning and yawning, darkened face. Upon onset, the patient fears people and fire, startles at the sound of wood, feels heart palpitations, prefers to stay alone behind closed doors and windows. In severe cases, they may wish to climb high and sing, or strip clothes and run. Borborygmus and abdominal distension occur, constituting Jue syndrome. Diseases governed by blood include manic malaria, warm pathogenic sweating, rhinorrhea and epistaxis, facial paralysis and lip sores, neck swelling and throat obstruction, massive abdominal edema, swelling and pain of the kneecap. Pain extends along the chest, breast, Qi Street, thigh, Futu, lateral thigh, and dorsum of the foot, with dysfunction of the middle finger. If Qi is abundant, heat prevails anteriorly; if excessive in the Stomach, digestion is rapid with frequent hunger, and urine is yellow. If Qi is deficient, coldness prevails anteriorly; cold in the Stomach causes distension. (Note on pronunciations omitted for brevity).

This describes the course of the Stomach Meridian Qi, which is the third meridian. The nasal bridge is the root of the nose; the Shan Gen is the Niandou. He is synonymous. The area below the cheek is Han; the center of the chin is Yi. The hairline anterior to the cheek is the frontal hairline; anterior to that is the frontal skull. The inner thigh is Bi; the fleshy prominence anterior to the knee is Futu; posterior to Futu is Biguan. The tendon clamping the knee is Bin; the shinbone is Tibia; the foot surface is Shu. The Foot Yangming receives the intersection of the Hand Yangming, originating at Yingxiang on both sides of the nose, ascending and crossing left and right at Xinhui, passing Jingming, descending along the lateral nose, passing Chengqi, Sibai, Juliao, ascending into the teeth, emerging to flank the mouth corners at Dicang, encircling the lower lip, crossing left and right at Chengjiang, following the post-mental mandibular border, exiting Daying, following Jiache, ascending anterior to the ear, passing Xiaguan, Guest Master, following the hairline through Xuanli and Hanyan, passing Touwei, meeting at Shenting in the frontal skull. Its branch descends from anterior to Daying to Renying, follows the throat, passes Shuitu and Qishe, enters Quepen, runs outside Yufu of the Foot Shaoyin, descends through the diaphragm, at the level of Shangwan and Zhongwan connects with the Stomach and networks with the Spleen. Its main trunk descends from Quepen, along the medial breast, passing Qihu, Kufang, Wuyi, Yingchuang, Ruzhong, Rugen, Burong, Chengman, Liangmen, Guanmen, flanking the umbilicus, passing Tianshu, Wailing, Daju, Shuidao, Guilai, and entering Qichong (Qi Street). Its branch originates from the Stomach connection, starting at the lower opening of the Stomach, follows the abdominal interior, outside Huangshu of the Foot Shaoyin, inside this meridian, descends to Qichong to merge with the previously entered branch. After merging at Qichong, it descends to Biguan, reaches Futu, passes Yinshi and Liangqiu, enters the kneecap, passes Dubi, follows the foot surface, named Shu, Chongyang, XianGu, enters Neiting between the middle toes, ending at Lidi. Its collateral branch separates three cun below the knee, outside Sanli, descending through Shanglian, Tiaokou, Xialian, Fenglong, Jiexi, Chongyang, XianGu, until merging at Neiting and Lidi. Another branch separates at Chongyang on the dorsum, enters the big toe space, exits outside Xingjian of the Foot Jueyin, follows the big toe down to its tip, to intersect with the Foot Taiyin. When verifying disease via moving points, symptoms appear in respective regions according to deficiency, excess, cold, and heat. The Stomach is Earth; fearing the sound of wood indicates Earth fears Wood.