16/03/2026
Hegu, known as Joining Valley, is a potent Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupoint located on the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, midway on the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. It is classified as the Yuan-Source point of the Large Intestine Channel (LI-4), the Command Point of the head and face, and the 'Master Point of Pain.'
It can be either needled or massaged by applying finger and thumb pressure in a circular motion and is indicated for diseases of the head and face: i.e., external pathogenic headache and bodyache, dizziness, congestion, swelling and pain of the eye, nasosinusitis, nosebleed, toothache in the lower jaw, lockjaw, deafness, mumps, swelling of the face, facial paralysis, facial tic, swelling of the pharnyx and inability to speak. It is also used for aversion to cold, fever, febrile disease, anhidrosis (no sweating), hidrosis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, labour/childbirth induction, gastric pain, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, hemiplegia, finger spasm, pain in the arm, infantile convulsion, manic psychosis and irritability.
It is frequently used in conjunction with LIV-3 to activate 'The Four Gates' to strongly move the qi and blood in the body in order to remove stagnation and alleviate pain in conjunction with other acupoints.
Please note: Important Contraindication - LI-4 is strictly forbidden during pregnancy as it can induce labour or cause uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage.
Contact Dr Davey now on 0417164627 for assistance with your pain management ☆
*picture courtesy of Deadman, et al (2007) "A Manual of Acupuncture," p.112
