LI-4 - Joining Valley

合谷 - Hé gǔ

Point Region: Hand

LI

Large Intestine Meridian

手阳明大肠经 - Shǒu Yángmíng Dàcháng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the back of the hand, beside the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone (the bone in the hand that leads to the index finger), on its thumb side.

How to Locate:

  1. Find the bone in the back of your hand that leads to your index finger
  2. Go to the middle of that bone
  3. The point is just beside it, on the thumb side
LI-4 (Joining Valley) acupressure point location: On the back of the hand, beside the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone (the bone in the hand that leads to the index finger), on its thumb side.

How to Apply Pressure

Press into the web of the hand beside the middle of the bone that leads to the index finger, angling toward that bone. Use firm, never painful pressure with the thumb of the other hand. Do not press this point during pregnancy, and skip it after hand surgery or injury.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Headache
  • Toothache
  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Facial pain
  • Dental pain
  • Throat pain
  • Common cold
  • Constipation
  • Stress

Related Health Concerns

AllergiesCar SicknessCold and Flu OnsetFeeling FaintHeadacheNeuralgiaCrampsDental PainTension HeadacheNeck and Shoulder PainAcneBloating

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

Traditionally combined with:

LI-4 + LR-3
Great Rushing
LI-4 + ST-44
Inner Courtyard
LI-4 + GV-14
Great Hammer

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Pregnancy
  • Recent hand surgery
  • Severe hand injury