Liver 14 (LV 14) Qi Men — Cycle Gate

This is the Front-Mu (alarm) point of the Liver channel. It spreads Liver qi, harmonises the Liver and Stomach and invigorates the blood, and is the last point of the Liver channel.

Liver 14 (LV 14) Qi Men 期門 — Cycle Gate

Location

On the chest, in the sixth intercostal space, on the mamillary line, directly below the nipple, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

Anatomy

In the external oblique, the intercostal muscles; the sixth intercostal artery and vein; the sixth intercostal nerve. The liver lies deep on the right.

Actions & Functions

  • Spreads Liver qi and relieves stagnation
  • Harmonises the Liver and Stomach
  • Invigorates the blood and benefits the chest and hypochondrium

Indications

Hypochondriac and chest pain and fullness, hiccup and acid regurgitation, abdominal distension, depression and irritability, mastitis, and disorders following invasion of the Liver by pathogenic factors.

Needling

0.3-0.5 cun, oblique or transverse insertion.

Moxibustion Suitability

Suitable for moxibustion.

Point Combinations

With LV-3 and GB-34 to spread Liver qi; with LV-13 for hypochondriac pain.

Classical Text References

The Front-Mu point of the Liver and a meeting point with the Spleen channel and the Yin Wei Mai.

Cautions & Contraindications

Deep perpendicular insertion risks the liver (right) and pneumothorax; needle obliquely or transversely only.

Latest Research

Latest peer-reviewed research on this point will be summarised here, with citations linked to PubMed, via our research integration.

About Attilio

Doctor of Chinese medicine, acupuncture expert and author of My Fertility Guide and My Pregnancy Guide.

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PubMed research

Traditional Chinese Medicine Improves Nutritional Status in Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients, Meta-Analysis Finds

Research summary (Traditional Chinese Medicine): Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in improving nutritional status among Chinese maintenance hemodialysis patients: a meta-analysis of - Frontiers in nutrition, 2026.