肘髎 (Zhǒuliáo) — Elbow Bone-Hole
Large Intestine channel · point 12
Traditionally used for
- Nerves & recovery
Location
On the posterolateral aspect of the elbow, superior to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, just anterior to the lateral supraepicondylar ridge.
How to locate: With the elbow flexed to 90°, go 1 cun up from LI11 and feel for the lateral supraepicondylar ridge where the shaft of the humerus meets the lateral epicondyle; the point is just in front of that bony edge.
Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.
3D view
3D view not available for this point: its position on the 3D model couldn't be checked against its location text, so it is not shown. The 2D maps above show it.
Needling
Cited needling
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Perpendicular insertionDepth 0.5–1 cunskindeeper
Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.
Sources (1)
- Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 114 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Activates the channel and relieves elbow pain
- Benefits the sinews
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, LI12 at the elbow balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
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1. Same Chinese nameStomach channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Stomach channel →
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2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Liver channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Liver channel →
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3. Interior–exterior pairLung channelElbow · Same segment, opposite sideUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Lung channel →
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4. Chinese clock oppositeKidney channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Kidney channel →
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5. Chinese clock neighbourStomach channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Stomach channel →
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6. Same channelLarge Intestine channelElbow · Same segment, opposite sideUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
Similar Points
Sources
- World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
- Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)
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