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Alternate names: 含口 hán kǒu, Holding Mouth; 合骨 hé gǔ, Uniting Bones; 虎口 hǔ kǒu, Tiger's Mouth

Channel: LI, Hand Yáng Brightness (yáng míng) Large Intestine Channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the dorsoradial aspect of the hand, on the radial side of the second metacarpal bone, inferior to the midpoint of the bone (i.e., under the bone).

Classic location: In the depression where the index finger and thumb bones part. (Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng)

Local anatomy: The venous network of the dorsum of the hand; proximally, exactly on the radial artery piercing from the dorsum to the palm of the hand. The superficial ramus of the radial nerve; deeper, the palmar digital proprial nerve derived from the median nerve.

Action: Frees the channels and quickens the network vessels; courses wind and resolves the exterior; clears and discharges lung heat; frees gastrointestinal downbearing; relieves pain and quiets the spirit.

Modern indications: Headache; painful red swollen eyes; nosebleed; toothache; clenched jaw; deviated eyes and mouth; deafness; painful swollen throat; mumps; hypertonicity of the fingers; pain in the arm; febrile disease with absence of sweating or profuse sweating; abdominal pain; constipation; amenorrhea; difficult delivery.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5‒0.8 cùn perpendicular insertion, i.e., toward the little finger. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 5‒15 min.

Needle sensation: Distension and numbness, spreading down to the fingers or up to the elbow, sometimes radiating into the shoulder or even the face.

Warning: Stimulation of this point is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Point groups: Source point (yuán xué); command point (sì zǒng xué) of the face and mouth; one of Mǎ Dān-Yáng's twelve heavenly star points; one of the nine needles for returning yáng.

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