Where is Lieque (LU7) located?

Lieque is located on the forearm, about 1.5 cun (finger-widths) above the wrist crease, in the depression between the radius bone and the tendons. A simple way to find it: cross your index fingers with the thumb pointing up — the tip of the upper index finger lands on Lieque of the lower hand.

What is Lieque most commonly used for?

Lieque is most commonly used for cough, asthma, sore throat, neck stiffness, and headaches. As the Luo-connecting point of the Lung meridian, it also treats conditions of the Large Intestine meridian.

Lieque (LU7): The Lightning Gap Point for Respiratory and Neck Issues

Lieque: The Broken Gap That Opens the Lungs

Lieque (列缺, LU7) is one of the most versatile and frequently used acupoints in clinical TCM practice. Its name means “broken gap” or “lightning gap” — referring to the crevice between the two tendons where the point is located, and to the sudden, lightning-like relief it can provide when correctly stimulated.

Lieque holds several important distinctions in acupuncture theory:

Luo-connecting point (络穴) of the Lung meridian — connecting the Lung and Large Intestine meridians
Confluent point (八脉交会穴) of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) — one of only eight points that connect to the extraordinary vessels
Master point for the Ren Mai, giving it influence over the chest, abdomen, and respiratory system

These special designations mean that Lieque has a much wider sphere of influence than a typical Lung meridian point — it affects not just the Lungs but also the Large Intestine, the entire front of the body, and the neck and head.

Location

Anatomical location: On the radial side of the forearm, approximately 1.5 cun proximal to the wrist crease, in the groove between the brachioradialis tendon and the abductor pollicis longus tendon.

Quick finding method:

Cross your hands naturally (interlock fingers)
Let your index finger of the upper hand rest on the thumb side of the lower wrist
The tip of the upper index finger lands directly on Lieque of the lower hand

This traditional “cross-hand” method (简便取穴法) makes Lieque one of the easiest acupoints for self-location.

Key Functions

1. Disperses Wind and Releases the Exterior (疏风解表)

Lieque is one of the primary points for treating early-stage colds and flu:

Headache and body aches from wind invasion
Nasal congestion and runny nose
Chills and mild fever
Stiff neck from wind-cold

Because it connects to the Ren Mai (which runs along the front of the body), Lieque helps disperse wind that has entered through the chest and neck area.

2. Opens and Descends Lung Qi (宣肺降气)

As a key Lung meridian point, Lieque is essential for respiratory conditions:

Cough (both acute and chronic)
Asthma and wheezing
Chest tightness and oppression
Shortness of breath
Sore throat

Lieque helps the Lung perform its natural function of descending Qi. When Lung Qi rebels upward, it causes coughing and wheezing — Lieque redirects the Qi downward, restoring normal breathing.

3. Relaxes the Neck and Treats Headache (通络止痛)

Lieque is one of the four key command points for the head and neck (四总穴 extended):

Neck stiffness and pain
Torticollis (wry neck)
Occipital headaches
Migraine headaches
Jaw pain and TMJ discomfort

The Lung meridian’s pathway and its Luo connection to the Large Intestine meridian (which travels through the neck and face) explain Lieque’s effectiveness for these conditions.

4. Regulates the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)

As the confluent point for the Ren Mai, Lieque influences:

Urinary difficulty and frequency
Pain or stiffness along the front of the body
Conditions of the chest and abdomen

Clinical Applications

Respiratory conditions:

Common cold with cough and nasal symptoms
Acute and chronic bronchitis
Asthma (especially as a supporting point)
Sore throat and laryngitis

Pain conditions:

Neck pain and stiffness (especially from wind-cold)
Tension headaches
Occipital headache
Facial pain and TMJ disorders

Other:

Urinary difficulty (through Ren Mai connection)
Toothache (Large Intestine meridian connection)

Acupoint Combinations

Combination	Purpose
Lieque (LU7) + Hegu (LI4)	The classic “cold and flu” pair — opens the exterior, relieves headache
Lieque (LU7) + Feishu (BL13)	Strengthens Lung function, treats chronic cough
Lieque (LU7) + Zhaohai (KI6)	Ren Mai + Chong Mai confluent pair — treats throat, chest, and abdominal conditions
Lieque (LU7) + Fengchi (GB20)	Treats neck stiffness and occipital headache
Lieque (LU7) + Taiyuan (LU9)	Strengthens Lung Qi, treats chronic respiratory weakness

Self-Massage Technique

Lieque is one of the best acupoints for self-treatment:

Find the point using the cross-hand method
Apply firm pressure with the tip of your thumb
Massage in small circles for 1-2 minutes on each side
For neck pain: Massage while gently turning the head side to side
For cough: Press firmly and breathe deeply for 30 seconds
For headache: Massage while closing your eyes and relaxing the forehead

Acupressure frequency: 2-3 times daily for acute conditions; once daily for prevention and maintenance.

Precautions

Pregnancy: Use with caution — Lung meridian points can sometimes affect the chest and diaphragm during pregnancy
Needle depth: In clinical acupuncture, needle insertion is shallow (0.3-0.5 cun), directed proximally or slightly laterally
Broken skin or infection: Do not massage or needle over broken skin, wounds, or infected areas

Key Takeaways

Lieque (LU7) is the Luo-connecting point of the Lung meridian and confluent point of the Ren Mai
It treats respiratory conditions (cough, asthma, sore throat), neck pain, and headaches
The “cross-hand” method makes it easy to locate for self-treatment
One of the most important points in clinical acupuncture — found in countless prescriptions