LI-19 - Grain Bone Hole

口禾髎 - Kǒu hé liáo

Point Region: Face

LI

Large Intestine Meridian

手阳明大肠经 - Shǒu Yángmíng Dàcháng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the face, below the outer edge of the nostril, level with the midpoint of the vertical groove between the nose and upper lip (the philtrum). It lies 0.5 cun out from GV-26. WHO also gives an alternative location, level with a point one third of the way down that groove.

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. Find the midpoint of the vertical groove between your nose and upper lip
  2. Move sideways to below the outer edge of the nostril
  3. The point is there
LI-19 (Grain Bone Hole) acupressure point location: On the face, below the outer edge of the nostril, level with the midpoint of the vertical groove between the nose and upper lip (the philtrum).

How to Apply Pressure

Once LI-19 is located, touch the area lightly with a clean fingertip; do not press hard against the upper lip or gum. Skip it after recent facial surgery, over a facial infection, or during acute sinusitis.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Nasal congestion
  • Sinusitis
  • Sinus problems
  • Facial numbness
  • Nasal problems
  • Facial nerve issues

Related Health Concerns

Allergies

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Recent facial surgery
  • Severe facial infections
  • Acute sinusitis