Lung Meridian
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LU-5
Water-Shui
Sea-He Point
Safety Warnings
- Deep needling contraindicated - shallow insertion only
Needle Depth
0.5–1.0 cun
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular)
Body Area
Elbow
Location
On the cubital crease, on the redial aspect of the biceps tendon. It can be easily identified when the elbow is slightly flexed.
Main Actions
- Clears Lung Heat
- Descends the Lung Qi
- Regulates water passages and benefits the Bladder
- Relaxes the sinews and eases pain
Indications
Commentary
This point should not be used for Deficiency/Empty patterns at all. Actually it is mostly used to clear Excess Interior Heat in the Lungs. The typical manifestations are cough, fever, profuse yellow sputum and thirst, which corresponds to the second level, the Qi level, of the Four Levels Theory.
This Interior Heat can deplete Body Fluids and cause Lung Dryness and eventually Lung Yin Deficiency. Thus Chize LU-5 is used to promote Body Fluids generating so as to nourish Yin. It is also said to ease wheezing and sadness derives from Dryness of the Lungs.
In chronic Lung diseases such as bronchitis, Phlegm can form and accumulate in the Lungs. When combining with Heat, it worsens the symptoms mentioned above. LU-5 is often used together with Fenglong ST-40 to clear Phlegm. On top of that, Yuji LU-10 can also be added to reinforce the effect.
Some TCM practitioners use it for treating Excess Cold patterns as well, such as Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs. The difference is that the sputum color is rather white instead of yellow. Other cold symptoms include chilliness or cold hands.
Furthermore, LU-5 is also said to be effective in facilitating urination by opening water passage for the Bladder or Kidneys. Therefore it can treat enuresis or frequent urination. It also treats urinary retention when Damp-Phlegm obstructs the Lungs and prevents Lung Qi to descend to open water passages in the Lower Burner. In this case, Reducing Needling method should be used, combining with Yinlingquan SP-9 and Zhongji REN-3.
Finally, this point is able to relax the arm sinews along the Lung Channel and ease pains due to Painful Obstruction Syndrome. It also treats paralysis of the arm, elbow or shoulder if the arms fail to raise to the head.
Classical Sources
Ling Shu (Divine Pivot), Chapter 2 'Ben Shu': "The He [point] is at the elbow, in the moving vessel" - establishing LU-5 as the He-Sea point of the Lung channel.
Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture): "In the elbow crease, above the transverse crease at the moving vessel." This text also records the alternative names Gui Shou (Ghost Recipient) and Gui Tang (Ghost Hall).
Zhen Jiu Da Cheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture): "In the elbow crease transverse line, in the moving vessel, at the elbow transverse crease, in the depression between sinew and bone." Needling depth: 3 fen, retain for 3 breaths, moxibustion 5 cones.
Zi Sheng Jing (Classic of Nourishing Life): "Chize treats vomiting and diarrhea with discharge above and below, pain below the ribs."
How to Locate
Slightly flex the fore arm so that the biceps tendon is more easy to be seem. Locate Chize LU-5 on the radial aspect of the cubital crease.
Caution
Avoid the cubital vein which runs nearby - locate and needle with elbow slightly flexed. Do not needle too deeply (not exceeding 1 cun) as deep puncture may pierce underlying vessels, causing bleeding and potentially trapping pathogenic factors internally, leading to difficulty flexing and extending the arm. Not recommended for deficiency/empty patterns - this point is primarily for clearing excess heat. If using moxibustion, avoid scarring moxa as it may affect elbow joint mobility. In stroke patients with high muscle tone or spasticity in the elbow, deep needling may worsen contracture.
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular)
Depth Category
Medium
Standard Depth
0.5–1.0 cun
Needling Directions
Vertical 0.5-1 cun. Caution: avoid cubital vein.
Expected Deqi Sensation
Local distention and soreness at the point. The sensation often radiates as an electric or numb feeling extending toward the forearm and sometimes to the thumb and index finger. Some patients may experience mild tingling spreading across the elbow area, and occasionally the sensation may travel up toward the chest.
Moxibustion
Questionable
Duration: 5–10 minutes
Cupping
Recommended
Bloodletting
Particularly Recommended
Gua Sha
Questionable
Five Element & Transporting Classification
Five Phase
Water-Shui
Transporting Type
Sea-He Point
Mother-Child Role
Child (Reducing)
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