Search in acupoints
LU-4 Guarding White
侠白 〔俠白〕 xiá bái
Alternate names: 夹白 jiā bái, Pinching White
Channel: LU, hand greater yīn (tài yīn) lung channel
Modern location: An acupoint located on the upper arm, 4 cùn inferior to the anterior axillary fold, on the lateral side of biceps brachii muscle.
Classical location: Below Celestial Storehouse (LU-3) at a pulsating vessel five cùn from the elbow. From
Local anatomy: See LU-3.
Action: Regulates qì and blood; relieves pain.
Modern indications: Cough; panting; dry retching;
Classical indications:
Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.5 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3‒5 cones; pole 10‒15 min.
Point name meaning:
- 侠 xiá: to protect, to guard; hero (someone who performs heroic deeds such as protecting the weak)
- 白 bái: white
The character 侠 (xiá) has the meaning to protect.
White, the color associated with metal in five-phase theory, is often used to represent the lung. Therefore, the point name conveys a sense of protecting the lung while also serving as a reminder that the point is on the lung channel.
Sometimes the character 侠 (xiá) is explained as meaning 夹 (jiā) because these two characters were not clearly distinguished in classical Chinese. 夹 (jiā) carries the meaning of to pinch (or be pinched) from both sides. Thus, because pinched
between the white skin of the arm and the chest, or between the red and white skin of the arm, it could be considered to be pinched by white.
In fact, 夹白 (jiā bái) Pinching White, is the alternate name for this point. The name Guarding White can also reflect this interpretation if one considers that a guarded object is often pinched
between those who guard it. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.