Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

In the inguinal groove, 2.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline and

1 cun inferior to the upper border of the symphysis.

How to find

From the upper border of the pubic symphysis, measure 2.5 cun

in a lateral and 1 cun in an inferior direction. In this area, you can

palpate the pulse of the femoral artery. LIV-12is located medial

to the pulsating of the artery. As the femoral vein also runs

medial to the artery, LIV-12should be needled in a medial direc-

tion, at least 1 fingerbreadth from the artery.

➞ST-30is located 1 cun superior and 0.5 cun medial to LIV-12.

Needling

Slightly obliquely 0.5–0.8 cun. Caution: Femoral artery/vein. The

femoral vein is located medial to the artery and is approximately

the breadth of a finger. To avoid injury to the vein, LIV-12should

not be needled medial to the artery. Owing to its tricky location,

classical texts recommend moxibustion only, while in modern

texts moxibustion is contraindicated for the same reason.

Actions/Indications

● Dispels Cold from the Liver channel and benefits the Lower

Burner

LIV-12 Urgent Pulse JIMAI

Upper border of

the pubic symphysis 1 cun

Midline

2 cun

LIV-12

Ren-2

ST-32

SP-14

ST-31SP-12

LIV-10

LIV-11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

13

SP-15 Ren-8

Ren-4

Ren-3

KID-11

KID-16

Ren-2

ST-28

SP-11

ST-25

ST-30

Highest

prominence

of the greater

trochanter

19 cun

Upper border

of the pubic

symphysis

ST-28

Symphysis

KID-15

Ren 2

Ren-6

SP-12

Umbilicus

(Ren-8)

ST-30

G.B.-27

Anterior superior

iliac spine

(ASIS)

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