LR-5 - Woodworm Canal
蠡沟 - Lǐ gōu
Point Region: Lower leg
Location & How to Find
Anatomical Location: On the front and inner side of the lower leg, at the centre of the inner flat surface of the shin bone (tibia), 5 cun above the inner ankle bone. It is one third of the way up from the inner ankle bone to the bottom of the kneecap, level with KI-9.
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:
- Find the most prominent point of your inner ankle bone and the bottom tip of your kneecap
- Go one third of the way up from the ankle bone toward the kneecap
- The point is on the middle of the flat inner surface of the shin bone
How to Apply Pressure
Because LR-5 sits directly over the shin bone, use only light, comfortable fingertip contact after locating it; never press hard against the bone. Skip it after recent leg surgery, and seek medical care for severe reproductive symptoms.
Traditional Indications
In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:
- Genital pain
- Vaginal discharge
- Irregular menstruation
- Anxiety
- Reproductive problems
- Emotional stress
- Menstrual disorders
- Pelvic pain
Related Health Concerns
Related Acupoints
Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.
Important Precautions
Avoid this point with:
- Recent leg surgery
- Severe reproductive disorders