The Large Intestine Channel of Hand Yangming

-It starts at the radial side of the tips of the index finger.
-It runs proximally along the radial side of the index finger and goes through the interspace between the first and second metacarpal bones at Hegu LI-4.
-It reaches the depression between the tendons of the extensor pollicis longus and brevis (anatomical snuff box) where Yangxi LI-5 is located.
-It moves along the lateral aspect of the forearm to the lateral aspect of the elbow at Quchi LI-11.
-It goes up along the lateral aspect of the upper arm to the shoulder joint at Jianyu LI-15.
-It crosses behind the shoulder to the depression between the scapular spine and the lateral extremity of the clavicle Jugu LI-16.
-It moves in a medial direction, going via Bingfeng SI-12 (in the middle of the suprascapular fossa) to Dazhui DU-14 (just under the spinous process of the C7 vertebra) where it joins with the other 5 yang meridians of the hand and foot.
-From Dazhui DU-14 it goes into the supraclavicular fossa in the area of Quepen ST-12 and meets with the Lung before descending via the diaphragm to meet with the Large Intestine.
-A second branch ascends from the supra clavicular fossa along the lateral aspect of the neck, goes through the cheek, and goes into the lower gums.
-From the gums the meridian goes through Dicang ST-4, bends around the upper lip and crosses the opposite side of the body at Renzhong DU-26, at the philtrum.
-From Renzhong DU-26, the left meridian goes to the right and the right meridian goes to the left to end at either side of the nose at Yingxiang LI-20.
-At Yingxiang LI-20 the Large Intestine channel meets with the Stomach channel.
According to the Spiritual Pivot, a branch of this primary channel descends to Shangjuxu ST-37.
This channel joins with the following zangfu: Large Intestine and Lung.

The Large Intestine primary channel meets with other channels at the following points: Dicang ST-4, Quepen ST-12, Bingfeng SI-12, Dazhui DU-14, Renzhong DU-26, Chengjiang REN-24. Even though Xuanlu GB-5, Xuanli GB-6 and Yangbai GB-14 are traditionally noted as meeting points with the Large Intestine channel, illustrations of the channel don’t usually depict these connections.

The Large Intestine Luo-Connecting Channel

It starts at Pianli LI-6 and connects with its interiorly-exteriorly connected Lung channel 3 cun above the wrist. It ascends the arm via Jianyu LI-15 to the jaw and cheek, where it splits, one branch connecting with the teeth, and the other going into the ear to connect the ‘zong mai’ (where the channels of the Large Intestine, Stomach, Small Intestine, Gall Bladder and Sanjiao gather and collect at the ear.)

The Large Intestine Divergent Channel

It separates from the Large Intestine primary channel on the hand, goes up the arm to the shoulder at Jianyu LI-15 and moves medially to the spinal column. It crosses the supraclavicular fossa and goes down to the thorax, breast, Lung and Large Intestine. A branch goes up from the supraclavicular fossa along the throat and joins with the Large Intestine primary channel.

The Large Intestine Sinew Channel

It starts at the tip of the index finger at Shangyang LI-1 and binds at the dorsum of the wrist. It ascends the forearm and binds at the lateral aspect of the elbow. It goes up the upper arm to bind at the shoulder, a branch goes around the scapula and joins the upper thoracic spine. From the shoulder the main channel goes up to the neck from where a branch goes up across the cheeks to bind at the side of the nose while the main channel goes up anterior to the Small Intestine sinew channel, crosses the temple to the corner of the forehead, and crosses over the top of the head to join with the mandible on the opposite side.

Pathological symptoms of the Large Intestine sinew channel include cramping and pain along the path of the channel, being unable to lift the shoulder, not able to turn the neck to the left or right.
The Large Intestine channel of hand yangming is interiorly-exteriorly paired with the Lung channel of hand taiyin and coupled with the Stomach channel of foot yangming based on the six-channel theory. The Large Intestine-Lung connection is further bolstered by the following:
-Both the interior pathway of the Large Intestine channel and the Large Intestine divergent channel enter the Lung zang.
-The Large Intestine luo-connecting channel from Pianli LI-6 meets with the Lung channel.

Also, the Large Intestine primary channel goes into the gums of the lower teeth. The primary channel crosses to the contralateral side of the face at Renzhong DU-26. The Large Intestine sinew channel ascends to the corner of the forehead and crosses over the top of the head to join with the opposite mandible. The Large Intestine luo-connecting channel goes into the ear in addition to the teeth. The Large Intestine divergent channel descends to the breast. The Large Intestine sinew channel joins to the upper thoracic spine and the divergent channel goes medially to the spinal column.

The role of Large Intestine fu is to receive waste matter sent down from the Small Intestine, absorb its fluid content and form the remainder into feces to be excreted. Despite this, even though many points of this channel have an action on the intestines and lower abdomen (especially in the treatment of borborygmus and diarrhea) in clinical practice they are much less used than points of the Spleen and Stomach channels.

Also, there is no Large Intestine channel point suggested for difficult bowel movements or constipation. This dearth of Large Intestine indications is not startling because while the channel traverses the upper body, the fu lies in the lower abdomen.

According to the Spiritual Pivot “Yangming channel is abundant in qi and blood”. Points of both the arm and leg portions of yangming channel are thus much utilized clinically to control qi and blood in the limbs and treat atrophy disorder and painful obstruction, hemiplegia and all types of pain.

Points of this channel thus, are among the most vital points to remove excess of yang in the form of heat and fever, especially Hegu LI-4 and Quchi LI-11. Apart from the above-mentioned the main actions and signs of the points of this channel can be summarized as follows:
-Treating all diseases of the yangming channel in the head, this area contains the face and cheeks, forehead, eyes, nose, lips, gums and teeth.
-Treating diseases of the ear (Large Intestine luo-connecting channel).
-Removing wind, cold and heat from the exterior part of the body.
-Removing wind-heat, internal heat and fire poison from the areas traversed by the channel, particularly the head.
-Removing yangming fire which disturbs the Heart and spirit.
-Aiding the Lung in its role of opening the water passages.

Reference and Photo courtesy of: A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji and Kevin Baker

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