Back to search result Search again Previous Next ↑

Alternate names: 临泣（足） lín qì (zú), Overlooking Tears (Leg); 足少阳之俞 zú shào yáng zhī shù,

Channel: GB, foot lesser yáng (shào yáng) gallbladder channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the dorsal aspect of the foot, between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, on the lateral (proximal) side of the extensor digitorum longus tendon that attaches to the little toe.

Classical location: In the depression behind and between the base joints of the little toe and the one next to it, one cùn and five fēn from Pinched Ravine (GB-43). From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The branch of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot.

Action: Clears fire and extinguishes wind; brightens the eyes and sharpens the hearing; courses liver and gallbladder qì stagnation; transforms obstructing phlegm-heat.

Modern indications: Painful red swollen eyes; rib-side pain; menstrual irregularities; enuresis; mammary welling-abscess (rǔ yōng); scrofula; painful swelling of the dorsum of the foot; malarial disease.

Classical indications: Axillary swelling; panting; dry eyes; heat effusion with aversion to cold; chest impediment (xiōng bì); pain in the supraclavicular fossa; mammary welling-abscess (rǔ yōng); menstrual irregularities; saber and pearl-string lumps; migratory wind pain; damp swelling of the dorsum of the feet; pain at the vertex; fullness and pain in the region of the free ribs.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.5 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 3‒5 min.

Point groups: Stream (shù) (wood) point; confluence (bā mài jiāo huì) point of the girdling vessel.

Point name meaning:

• 足 zú: foot
• 临 lín: to overlook, to face toward; to arrive at
• 泣 qì: tears; to weep (silent tears)

Near this point, a branch of the gallbladder channel leaves the main channel to connect with the liver channel at Large Pile (LR-1). Because the liver opens into the eyes, this connection, combined with the fact that the gallbladder channel originates at the outer edge of the eye, enables the point to treat eye disorders such as pain in the outer canthus, dry eyes and visual dizziness.

The name Overlooking Tears is therefore a reference to the functions of this point as regards the eyes. The word foot is included in the name to distinguish this point from another of similar name, Head Overlooking Tears (GB-15). See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

Back to search result Search again Previous Next