What Are the Acupuncture Points and Meridians in the Legs?
Acupoints are an important part of traditional Chinese medicine theory. For instance, when performing acupuncture, it is necessary to locate the accurate acupoint before inserting the needle. There are many acupoints on the legs, and when experiencing symptoms such as pain, soreness, or swelling, we can improve them through stimulating these acupoints. To have a thorough understanding of acupoints, it is essential to have a good knowledge of the major acupoints in the legs. So, what are the meridians and acupoints in the legs?
1. Xi Yan (Knee Eye) Acupoint Standard Location: When the knee is bent, it is located in the depression on both sides of the patellar ligament. The one on the medial side is called Nei Xi Yan (Inner Knee Eye), and the one on the lateral side is called Wai Xi Yan (Outer Knee Eye). Method of Locating: Bend the knee to locate the acupoint. Anatomy: Under the acupoint are the skin, subcutaneous tissue, the patellar ligament, the medial patellar retinaculum, and the knee joint capsule. It is innervated by the inferior branch of the saphenous nerve. Function: Activates blood circulation and regulates the joints. Main indications: Knee joint diseases caused by various reasons, patellar chondromalacia, etc. Needling and moxibustion: Bend the knee and insert the needle obliquely from anterior-lateral to posterior-medial or from anterior-medial to posterior-lateral, 0.5-1 cun deep. Moxibustion can be applied.
2. Liang Qiu (Beam Hill) Acupoint Method of Locating: Bend the knee and locate the acupoint 2 cun above the patellar base on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine and the lateral end of the patellar base on the front of the thigh. Anatomy: It is located between the rectus femoris muscle and the vastus lateralis muscle; it has the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery; it is innervated by the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Main indications: Knee swelling and pain, paralysis of the lower limbs, stomach pain, mastitis, hematuria. Combination of acupoints: Combined with Zusanli (ST36) and Zhongwan (CV12) to treat stomach pain. Needling and moxibustion: Insert the needle straightly 1-1.2 cun deep. Note: Xi point of the Foot Yangming Meridian.
3. Liang Qiu (Beam Hill) Acupoint Alternative Names: Heding (Crane Top), Kuagu (Striding Bone). Significance: Constrains the downward drainage of water in the Stomach Meridian. 3. Fùliū (KI7) Acupoint Main indications: Diarrhea, bowel rumbling, edema, abdominal distension, leg swelling, foot weakness, night sweats, imperceptible and thin pulse, fever without sweat, and severe pain in the waist and spine. Combination of acupoints: Combined with Houxi (SI3) and Yinxi (KI6) to treat persistent night sweats; combined with Zhongji (CV3) and Yingu (KI10) to treat urinary retention. Needling and moxibustion: Insert the needle straightly 0.8-1 cun deep; moxibustion can be applied. Note: Meridian point of the Kidney Meridian.
4. With the patient's knee bent, the doctor presses the palm of the left hand on the upper edge of the patient's right patella, with the second to fifth fingers stretched upward and the thumb placed at a 45-degree angle. The acupoint is located below the tip of the thumb. The contralateral side is located similarly. Anatomy: It is located on the upper edge of the medial supracondylar process of the femur, in the middle of the vastus medialis muscle; it has the femoral artery and vein branches; it is innervated by the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the femoral nerve muscle branches. Main indications: Irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, amenorrhea, urticaria, eczema, and erysipelas. Combination of acupoints: Combined with Sanyinjiao (SP6) to treat irregular menstruation; combined with Quchi (LI11) to treat urticaria. Needling and moxibustion: Insert the needle straightly 1-1.5 cun deep. Alternative Names: Bai Chong Wo (Hundred Insect Nest), Xue Xi (Blood Xi). Significance: The blood generated by the Spleen Meridian gathers here.
