LI-1 - Metal Yang

商阳 - Shāng yáng

Point Region: Finger

LI

Large Intestine Meridian

手阳明大肠经 - Shǒu Yángmíng Dàcháng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the index finger, at the corner of the nail on the thumb side, about 0.1 cun from the corner, where the side edge of the nail meets the line of its base.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Look at your index fingernail
  2. Find its corner at the base, on the side facing your thumb
  3. The point is just beside this corner
LI-1 (Metal Yang) acupressure point location: On the index finger, at the corner of the nail on the thumb side, about 0.1 cun from the corner, where the side edge of the nail meets the line of its base.

How to Apply Pressure

Once you have located LI-1, use only a light fingertip touch; do not pinch or dig into the nail bed. Avoid it if the skin around the nail is broken, infected, or recently injured, and stop if it hurts.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Sore throat
  • Toothache
  • Fever
  • Throat pain
  • Dental pain
  • High temperature

Related Health Concerns

Cold and Flu OnsetDental PainFeeling Faint

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Broken skin around nail
  • Severe nail infections
  • Recent nail injury