Liver Channel
Zhongdu LIV-6 Acupuncture Point

Zhongdu LIV-6

Chinese: 中都

Pinyin: Zhōng Dōu

Location

7 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, or 2 cun above Ligou LIV-5, on the medial aspect and near the medial border of the tibia. 

How to locate

From the tip of the medial malleolus, palpate 7 cun in a proximal direction and locate LIV-6 in a depression directly posterior to the medial crest of the tibia. 

Another method is to divide the distance between the tip of the medial malleolus and the popliteal crease into half. Locate LIV-6 at 0.5 cun above the midpoint. 

Main actions

  1. Removes Obstructions from the Channel
  2. Invigorates Liver Qi in Lower Burner
  3. Invigorates Blood

Indications

Shan disorder Inner leg pain Lochia retention Lower abdominal pain Hypogastric fullness and pain Cold in the lower extremities

Needling

0.5-1 cun vertically or obliquely in a direction towards the abdomen. 

Commentary for Zhongdu LIV-6

Like Ligou LIV-5, LIV-6 has a close relationship with the genitourinary system and is used for clearing Damp-Heat there. The typical manifestation is Shan disorder (Hernial and Genitourinary disorder). 

The use of LIV-6 is very similar to LIV-4 and LIV-5.  It is mainly used in Excess patterns and acute cases to stop pain caused by obstruction of Liver Qi or Damp-Heat (eg: urinary pain such as cystitis).