Xingjian Point (LR-2 / Between the Stride)
Clears liver heat, extinguishes liver fire, calms liver wind, and drains liver excess. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for red painful eyes, headache, amenorrhea, male and female reproductive system disorders, hypertension, and facial paralysis.
Indications
Headache, dizziness, tinnitus and deafness, chest and hypochondriac distension with pain, restlessness, insomnia, spermatorrhea, impotence, vaginal itching, dysmenorrhea, and metrorrhagia. (1) Eye disorders: Red painful eyes, tearing in wind, glaucoma, stye. (2) Gynecological disorders: Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, vaginal itching. (3) Male disorders: Spermatorrhea, impotence. (4) Heat disorders: Headache, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, sore throat, hypertension. (5) Others: Chest and hypochondriac pain, epigastric pain, knee pain, lumbar pain, foot swelling and pain, facial deviation, stroke, epilepsy, insomnia, heart disorders, etc.
Precise Location
On the dorsum of the foot, between the 1st and 2nd toes, posterior to the web margin, at the junction of the red and white skin.
Location Method
Sit upright or lie supine. On the dorsum of the foot, between the 1st and 2nd toes, posterior to the web margin at the junction of the red and white skin – firm pressure produces a distinct sore and distending sensation.
Massage Method
① Massage: Firmly pinch and knead with the thumb tip. ② Moxibustion: Apply mild-warm moxa stick. Pinch and knead Xingjian with the thumb tip about 200 times, or for 3–5 minutes, to treat dizziness, tinnitus, and deafness. Therapeutic actions: Clears liver fire and drains heat, soothes the liver and regulates qi, extinguishes wind and subdues yang.
Compatibility
Headache: Combine with Taichong (LR-3) and Hegu (LI-4). Red painful eyes: Combine with Jingming (BL-1) and Taiyang (EX-HN5). Lumbar, knee, and leg pain: Combine with Huantiao (GB-30) and Fengshi (GB-31). Strangury: Combine with Zhongji (RN-3), Pangguangshu (BL-28), and Yinlingquan (SP-9). Globus hystericus: Combine with Fenglong (ST-40). Leukorrhea: Combine with Qihai (RN-6) and Yinlingquan (SP-9). Dysmenorrhea: Combine with Sanyinjiao (SP-6), Diji (SP-8), and Qihai (RN-6). Chest and hypochondriac pain: Combine with Qimen (LR-14), Zhigou (TE-6), and Yanglingquan (GB-34). Dizziness, headache, and hypertension due to liver yang rising: Combine with Baihui (GV-20), Fengchi (GB-20), Hegu (LI-4), Quchi (LI-11), and Taichong (LR-3). Migraine: Combine with Baihui (GV-20), Fengchi (GB-20), and Shuaigu (GB-8). Dark, hot, painful urination: Combine with Zhongji (RN-3), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Ligou (LR-5).
Efficacy & Actions
Xingjian belongs to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and is the Ying-Spring (Water) point where the meridian qi flows. It clears liver fire, drains fire, and soothes the liver and regulates qi. It is the primary point for treating Liver Meridian excess-heat patterns and a key point for clearing the liver, with reducing technique commonly used. First documented in Lingshu · Benshu. "Xing" means to walk or pass; "Jian" means gap or interval. Located in the gap between the 1st and 2nd metatarsophalangeal joints, where meridian qi passes – hence the name Xingjian (Between the Stride). (1) Common Point for Eye Disorders: TCM holds that "the Liver opens to the eyes," and the Liver Meridian connects to the eye system. Eye disorders are closely related to the Liver – especially those caused by blazing liver fire. Xingjian is specific for glaucoma, stye, red painful eyes, and tearing in wind. The Nanjing · 68th Difficulty states: "Ying-Spring points treat body heat." The Baizheng Fu states: "For night blindness due to liver qi, carefully consider Jingming and Xingjian." The Weisheng Baojian states: "Xingjian treats knee swelling and eye disorders." (2) Key Point for Urinary, Gynecological, and Male Disorders: The Liver Meridian passes through the genital region and reaches the lower abdomen. The Liver stores blood – blazing liver fire causes failure to store blood, leading to metrorrhagia; damp-heat descending causes strangury; damp-toxin damages the Belt and Conception Vessels causing leukorrhea and dark scanty urine. As the Ying-Spring point and child point of the Liver Meridian, according to "drain the child for excess patterns," Xingjian treats liver-heat excess patterns – especially effective for strangury and leukorrhea. (3) Primary Point for Liver Yang Rising Disorders: As the Ying-Spring (Fire) point and child point of the Liver Meridian, it clears liver fire, extinguishes wind, and subdues yang – treating headache, dizziness, hypertension, tinnitus, deafness, red painful eyes, sore throat, and optic atrophy due to liver fire blazing and yang rising. (4) Other Therapeutic Effects: Also widely used for chest and hypochondriac pain, epigastric pain, knee pain, lumbar pain, foot swelling, facial deviation, stroke, epilepsy, insomnia, and heart disorders – whenever pattern differentiation indicates liver qi stagnation with heat or meridian obstruction.
Contraindications
Reducing technique is primarily used – use with caution in deficiency patterns. Use with caution in pregnant women. Moxibustion is permissible.
