Taichong Point (LR-3 / Great Thoroughfare)
Soothes liver depression, regulates liver qi, unblocks the liver meridian, and benefits liver deficiency. Based on its properties, this point is mainly used for headache, facial paralysis, hypertension, diaphragmatic spasm, sore throat, insomnia, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, and gynecological conditions.
Indications
Headache, dizziness, hypertension, irritability, sperm deficiency (poor semen quality), enuresis, metrorrhagia, and irregular menstruation. (1) Liver wind-heat patterns: Manic-depressive disorders, insomnia, depression, dizziness, irritability. (2) Male and female reproductive disorders: Irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia, retained lochia, impotence, premature ejaculation, priapism. (3) Urinary disorders: Hernia, enuresis, difficult urination, strangury, urinary retention. (4) ENT disorders: Tinnitus, deafness, sore throat, red painful eyes, tearing in wind, temporomandibular joint disorder, facial paralysis, facial pain, facial spasm. (5) Meridian pathway disorders: Vertex headache, chest and hypochondriac pain, lumbar pain, medial thigh pain, lower limb flaccidity/bi-syndrome, foot swelling and pain. (6) Others: Hypertension, heart disease, melasma, acne, etc.
Precise Location
Located on the Liver Meridian, on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression anterior to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. Follow the gap between the big toe and second toe upward until palpating the artery – that is the point.
Location Method
Sit upright with feet on the floor, flex the left knee, place the foot on a chair, raise the left hand with palm facing down on the dorsum of the foot – bend the middle finger; the point is where the middle fingertip rests in the depression anterior to the 1st and 2nd metatarsal junction.
Massage Method
Press vertically from bottom to top with the index and middle fingertips – a distinct distending, sore, and painful sensation will occur. Apply to both sides for 3–5 minutes each, left first then right. Therapeutic actions: Calms the liver and drains heat, clears and benefits the lower jiao, soothes the liver and relieves depression, subdues yang and extinguishes wind.
Compatibility
Dizziness and vertigo: Combine with Hegu (LI-4) and Wuchu (BL-5). Disease overview: Dizziness is a subjective sensory abnormality – rotational vertigo (vestibular/cerebellar dysfunction) and general dizziness (systemic diseases with a sensation of lightheadedness). Massage sequence: Push Taichong 20 times; press Hegu with a press-and-release motion 20 times; press Wuchu with the index finger pads for 3 minutes. Hypertension: Combine with Renying (ST-9), Dazhui (GV-14), and Taichong (LR-3). Deafness: Combine with Tinggong (SI-19), Xiaguan (ST-7), Taichong (LR-3), and Zhongzhu (TE-3). Early menstruation: Combine with Guanyuan (RN-4), Xuehai (SP-10), and Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Delayed menstruation: Combine with Zhongji (RN-3), Geshu (BL-17), Xuehai (SP-10), and Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Irregular menstruation: Combine with Ganshu (BL-18) and Zhongji (RN-3). Metrorrhagia: Combine with Qihai (RN-6), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), Yinbai (SP-1), and Xuehai (SP-10). Metrorrhagia with leukorrhea: Combine with Guanyuan (RN-4), Qihai (RN-6), and Yinbai (SP-1). Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea: Combine with Guilai (ST-29), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Zhongji (RN-3). Hernia: Combine with Dadun (LR-1), Guilai (ST-29), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Baihui (GV-20). Four Gates (Taichong with Hegu): Harmonizes qi and blood, coordinates yin and yang – with sedative, calming, spasmolytic, and analgesic effects. Generalized joint pain without fixed location: Four Gates with Dazhui (GV-14) and Fengshi (GB-31). Vertex headache: Combine with Baihui (GV-20). Difficulty walking: Combine with Zusanli (ST-36) and Zhongfeng (LR-4). All blood stasis disorders: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6).
Efficacy & Actions
Taichong belongs to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and is the Shu-Stream point of this meridian, corresponding to the Earth element in the five-element theory. It is also the Yuan-Source point where primordial qi passes and lodges. It soothes the liver and relieves depression, subdues yang and extinguishes wind, and regulates qi and blood. It has a wide range of indications and is a commonly used point – applicable to both liver excess and liver deficiency patterns. First documented in Lingshu · Benshu. "Tai" means great; "Chong" means thoroughfare or important passage. This point is the Shu-Stream and Yuan-Source point of the Liver Meridian, and is where the Chong Vessel branches. The Liver stores blood, and the Chong Vessel is the sea of blood – the qi of the Liver and Chong Vessel combine and flourish here – hence the name Taichong (Great Thoroughfare). In daily life, we may encounter people with irritable tempers who easily lose their temper. TCM views the Liver as the "General of the Zang Organs," governing anger. When one is angry, energy often flows along the Liver Meridian pathway – so the Liver is affected, and Taichong shows abnormalities. Those with poor temper, frequent anger, or irritability should massage Taichong regularly – it effectively dissolves anger and relieves emotional tension. (1) Key Point for Gynecological Disorders: The Liver stores blood and governs free flow, regulating blood volume. When the Liver fails to store blood or regulate free flow, causing Chong and Ren imbalance, gynecological disorders arise. As the Yuan-Source point of the Liver Meridian, Taichong soothes the liver, drains liver fire, and regulates liver blood – used for irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, leukorrhea, and retained lochia. (2) Common Point for Urinary Disorders: The Liver Meridian encircles the genitalia and reaches the lower abdomen, closely related to the reproductive and urinary systems. Normal urination depends on kidney qi transformation and bladder control – bladder control is related to liver free flow. Since liver and kidney are of the same source, urinary and reproductive disorders are often attributed to liver-kidney dysfunction. Taichong treats urinary retention, strangury, enuresis, and hernia due to Liver Meridian damp-heat descending. (3) Key Point for Hypertension, Dizziness, and Vertex Headache: As the Yuan-Source point where Liver Meridian true qi converges, reducing needling calms the liver, descends counterflow, unblocks stasis, and extinguishes wind – often combined with Fengchi (GB-20), Baihui (GV-20), and Quchi (LI-11) to subdue yang and clear wind-heat. Vertex headache, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, and hypertension due to liver fire and wind-yang rising are all treated. Clinical needling often penetrates toward Yongquan (KI-1) to nourish water and support wood, treating both symptoms and root cause. (4) Specific Point for Sore Throat, Facial Paralysis, and TMJ Disorder: Based on "where the meridian passes, there it treats," the Liver Meridian "courses behind the throat, ascends to the palate, and from the eye system descends through the cheek and circles the lips" – making it effective for these conditions. The Baizheng Fu states: "Taichong reduces lip deviation with rapid recovery." The Biaoyou Fu states: "For heart fullness and throat pain, needling Taichong is essential." (5) Effective Point for Liver-Stomach Disharmony: The Liver Meridian "flanks the stomach" – with close connection. As the Earth point of the Wood meridian, Taichong soothes the liver and regulates the middle, treating both liver and spleen – a key point for liver-stomach disharmony causing stomach pain, gastric distension, hiccups, vomiting, and belching. (6) Common Point for Liver-Gallbladder Disorders: As the Shu-Stream and Yuan-Source point of the Liver Meridian – "for disorders of the five zang and six fu, treat their Yuan-Source points" – it treats cholecystitis, bitter taste, hypochondriac pain, fatty liver, and hepatitis. (7) Other Therapeutic Effects: This point has extensive applications – used for red painful eyes, optic atrophy, tearing in wind, facial spasm, stroke, manic-depressive disorders, convulsions, hysteria, depression, closure patterns, mania, impotence, premature ejaculation, priapism, enuresis, melasma, acne, and many other conditions. When combined with Quchi (LI-11) or Neiguan (PC-6), efficacy is enhanced. Especially with Hegu (LI-4) as the "Four Gates" – it calms, sedates, stops spasms, and relieves pain with remarkable clinical results.
Contraindications
Taichong is near the peroneal nerve and the 1st dorsal artery of the foot – needling should avoid them. This point lowers blood pressure – use with caution in hypotensive patients. Moxibustion is generally not used – the Xunjing Kaoxue Bian prohibits moxibustion, so use with caution.
