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This is the Front-Mu (alarm) point of the Lung and the meeting point of the Lung and Spleen channels. It is a key point for tonifying and descending Lung qi and for diagnosing Lung disorders.
Location
On the upper lateral chest, in the first intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline, 1 cun inferior to LU-2.
Anatomy
Pectoralis major and minor muscles; the cephalic vein and the thoraco-acromial artery; the supraclavicular nerve, the lateral and medial pectoral nerves, and the lateral cutaneous branch of the first intercostal nerve.
Actions & Functions
- Tonifies Lung qi
- Descends and disperses rebellious Lung qi
- Clears heat from the Lung and upper burner
- Regulates the water passages
- Harmonises the Lung and Spleen
Indications
Cough, asthma and wheezing, fullness and pain of the chest, shoulder and back pain, and Lung qi deficiency.
Needling
0.5-0.8 cun, oblique or transverse insertion directed laterally.
Moxibustion Suitability
Suitable for moxibustion to tonify and warm the Lung in deficiency and cold patterns.
Point Combinations
With LU-5 for cough and Lung heat; with LU-9 and BL-13 for Lung qi deficiency.
Classical Text References
The Front-Mu (alarm) point of the Lung, used in classical texts both to treat and to diagnose Lung disorders by palpation for tenderness.
Cautions & Contraindications
Deep or perpendicular medial insertion risks puncturing the lung (pneumothorax). Needle obliquely or transversely in a lateral direction only.
Latest Research
Latest peer-reviewed research on this point will be summarised here, with citations linked to PubMed, via our research integration.
