LI-9 - Upper Ridge

上廉 - Shàng lián

Point Region: Forearm

LI

Large Intestine Meridian

手阳明大肠经 - Shǒu Yángmíng Dàcháng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the back and thumb side of the forearm, on the line from LI-5 at the wrist to LI-11 at the elbow, 3 cun below the elbow crease.

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 LI-11 at the outer end of the elbow crease
  2. Measure four finger-widths down the line toward the wrist
  3. The point is on that line
(Illustration coming soon)

How to Apply Pressure

After locating LI-9, apply soft, steady fingertip contact and stop if it hurts or causes tingling. Avoid it after recent arm surgery or an acute arm injury; suspected bowel obstruction requires urgent medical care, not acupressure.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Arm numbness
  • Bowel problems
  • Stomach pain
  • Arm weakness
  • Digestive problems

Related Health Concerns

ConstipationStomach CrampsFatigue

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Recent arm surgery
  • Severe constipation with obstruction
  • Acute arm injury