LU-3 - Celestial Storehouse

天府 - Tiān fǔ

Point Region: Upper arm

LU

Lung Meridian

手太阴肺经 - Shǒu Tàiyīn Fèi Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the front and outer side of the upper arm, just outside the edge of the biceps muscle, 3 cun below the front fold of the armpit.

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 front fold of your armpit and the crease of your elbow
  2. Go one third of the way down from the armpit fold toward the elbow crease
  3. The point is just outside the edge of the biceps, on the thumb side
LU-3 (Celestial Storehouse) acupressure point location: On the front and outer side of the upper arm, just outside the edge of the biceps muscle, 3 cun below the front fold of the armpit.

How to Apply Pressure

When LU-3 is located, use only a light, steady fingertip hold beside the biceps; never press deeply or cause bruising. Do not use this point after recent arm surgery or if you have a bleeding or clotting disorder. Coughing blood or acute breathing distress requires urgent medical attention.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Cough
  • Coughing blood
  • Anxiety
  • Emotional disorders
  • Respiratory problems

Related Health Concerns

Cold and Flu OnsetAnxiety

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 bleeding disorders
  • Acute respiratory distress