LI14

Binao

Star

臂臑 (Bìnào) — Upper Arm

Large Intestine channel · point 14

Not yet clinically reviewed

Meeting point of the Large Intestine channel with the Yang Wei Mai

Traditionally used for

Eye health
Pain & joints

Location

On the lateral aspect of the upper arm, just anterior to the border of the deltoid muscle, 7 cun proximal to LI11.

How to locate: With the elbow flexed, have the patient tense the deltoid against resistance so its V-shaped lower end stands out on the lateral arm. The point is just in front of its border at that insertion, on the line from LI11 to LI15, 7 cun above LI11.

Regional anatomy: Beneath the skin and subcutaneous tissue the needle enters the lower part of the deltoid near its insertion on the humerus.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, front: LI14 · Upper arm — Fig. — LI14 · Upper arm After Albinus, 1747

The humerus — Gray's Anatomy plate — The humerus Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position can't be carried onto the 3D model reliably (it failed a placement check). The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

Oblique insertion

Depth 1–1.5 cun

skindeeper

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. 115 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.8–1.5 cun

Angle: Perpendicular or oblique upward

Functions

Benefits the eyes
Dissipates nodules
Activates the channel and relieves shoulder pain

Indications

Eye disorders and blurred visionscrofulashoulder and arm painstiff neck

Balance Method partners

Under Dr. Tan's six systems, LI14 at the upper arm balances these channels at the regions its segment images.

1. Same Chinese name

Stomach channel

Thigh · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Lower leg, Calf · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Stomach channel →
2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)

Liver channel

Thigh · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Lower leg, Calf · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Liver channel →
3. Interior–exterior pair

Lung channel

Upper arm · Same segment, opposite side
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Lung channel →
4. Chinese clock opposite

Kidney channel

Thigh · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Lower leg, Calf · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Kidney channel →
5. Chinese clock neighbour

Stomach channel

Thigh · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Lower leg, Calf · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Stomach channel →
6. Same channel

Large Intestine channel

Upper arm · Same segment, opposite side
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Large Intestine channel →

Clinical Notes

An unexpected but well-attested distal point for the eyes — worth remembering when local orbital needling is unwelcome.

Combinations Using This Point

Shouwuli and Binao

LI13 and LI14 on the upper arm — for arm pain, swelling and paralysis, malaria and scrofula.

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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