Chize Point (LU-5 / Foot Marsh, also known as Guishou and Guitang)
Clears lung heat, stops cough and relieves wheezing, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the collaterals.
Indications
Cough, wheezing, pneumonia, allergies, tracheitis, hemoptysis, sore throat, eczema, elbow and arm spasm with pain, and knee joint pain. (1) Respiratory disorders: Common cold, cough, wheezing, hemoptysis, sore throat. (2) Sinew disorders: Frozen shoulder, brachial plexus neuralgia, shoulder-arm pain, finger contracture, knee pain. (3) Others: Acute vomiting and diarrhea, acute stomach pain, heatstroke, infantile convulsions, difficult urination, urticaria, etc.
Precise Location
Located at the elbow of the arm. Raise the arm – there is a thick tendon at the medial center of the arm; the point is on the lateral side of this tendon.
Location Method
Extend the arm forward with the palm facing upward, slightly flex the elbow at about 35°. Lightly support the elbow from below with the other hand, bend the thumb – the point is in the large depression of the elbow crease where the thumb pad rests.
Massage Method
① Massage: Press, knead, or pluck with the thumb. ② Moxibustion: Apply mild-warm moxa stick. ③ Bloodletting: For sore throat, cough, and wheezing, prick Chize with a three-edged needle to release 1–2 mL of blood. Bend the thumb and press into Chize with the pad for 1–3 minutes on each side per session. Therapeutic actions: Clears and disperses lung qi, drains fire and descends rebellious qi.
Compatibility
Acute mastitis: Combine with Shaoze (SI-1), Tanzhong (RN-17), Chize (LU-5), and Rugen (ST-18). Disease overview: Breast carbuncle, also known as acute mastitis, commonly occurs in postpartum women. Causes include liver qi stagnation with stomach heat, milk stasis, nipple injury with infection during breastfeeding, or postpartum blood deficiency with external pathogens causing damp-heat accumulation and qi-blood stagnation. Massage sequence: First pinch Shaoze on the little finger 20 times, then knead Tanzhong for 2 minutes, press Chize 30 times, finally press Rugen with the middle and ring finger pads with moderate pressure for 3 minutes. Continue daily until fully recovered. Cough: Combine with Fenglong (ST-40), Qiangjian (GV-18), Chize (LU-5), and Lieque (LU-7). Heatstroke: Combine with Shaoshang (LU-11), Zhongchong (PC-9), Shangyang (LI-1), and Chize (LU-5). Acute vomiting and diarrhea: Combine with Weizhong (BL-40) using bloodletting. Elbow-arm contracture pain and knee pain: Combine with Quchi (LI-11). Sore throat: Combine with Shaoshang (LU-11). Lung-heat hemoptysis and epistaxis: Combine with Kongzui (LU-6), Yuji (LU-10), and Shangxing (GV-23). Acute cough and wheezing: Combine with Zhongfu (LU-1), Yuji (LU-10), Kongzui (LU-6), and Feishu (BL-13). Wind-heat cough: Combine with Feishu (BL-13) and Lieque (LU-7). Chest pain: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6), Tanzhong (RN-17), and Feishu (BL-13). Relax sinews and unblock collaterals: Combine with Houxi (SI-3) needling toward Laogong (PC-8). Arm and elbow pain with inability to raise: Combine with Hegu (LI-4) and Quchi (LI-11). Tuberculosis (lung consumption): Combine with Gaohuang (BL-43). Manic disorders, elbow-arm contracture with inability to raise: Combine with Hegu (LI-4) and Rangu (KI-2). Cough, wheezing, sore throat, hemoptysis: Combine with Kongzui (LU-6), Feishu (BL-13), Hegu (LI-4), and Yuji (LU-10).
Efficacy & Actions
Chize belongs to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and is the He-Sea point where the meridian qi enters, corresponding to the Water element in the five-element theory. It disperses lung qi and descends it, drains fire and descends rebellious qi, relaxes the sinews and relieves pain. It is a key point for excess cough and wheezing due to external pathogens invading the lung, as well as for sinew and bone disorders. Reducing technique and bloodletting are commonly used in clinical practice. First documented in Lingshu · Benshu. "Chi" refers to the cubit region – in ancient times, the distance from the wrist to the elbow was called one chi; "Ze" means marsh or depression, where water gathers. As the He-Sea point of the Lung meridian corresponding to Water, the meridian qi gathers here like water flowing into a marsh. Located in the shallow depression of the elbow crease one chi from the wrist, it is named Chize (Foot Marsh). It is also known as "Guishou" and "Guitang." As the He-Sea point of the Lung meridian, Chize has both the general properties of He-Sea points and its own unique characteristics. Ancient texts often used yang meridian points for hemiplegia – such as Hegu, Shousanli, Baihui, Zusanli, and Yanglingquan – while modern practice often incorporates yin meridian points like Neiguan and Chize, supplementing the ancient approach. (1) Common Point for Respiratory Disorders: As the He-Sea point, "He treats rebellious qi and diarrhea" – it descends rebellious qi and relieves wheezing. As the child point of the Lung meridian, according to the principle "reduce the child point for excess patterns," lung excess is treated by reducing Chize. It clears lung heat, disperses lung qi, drains blood heat, and eliminates toxins. It treats wheezing, chest tightness, dyspnea, cough, early-stage colds, and acute cough/wheezing conditions. (2) Common Point for Sinew Disorders: The Zhouhou Ge states: "For knee swelling and difficulty walking, Chize relaxes sinew and bone pain." The Yulong Fu records: "Chize treats sinew tension with inability to use the limb." The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion states: "For clenched hand with inability to extend, Chize must be taken seriously." The Shengyu Ge states: "Chize can treat sinew contracture." It treats frozen shoulder, elbow and arm pain, upper limb flaccidity, brachial plexus neuralgia, finger contracture, and knee pain – often combined with Quchi, Shousanli, and Yanglingquan using lifting-thrusting reducing technique or bloodletting. (3) Treats Acute Gastroenteritis: The Great Compendium records: "Chize is unparalleled for treating hematemesis." The Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing states: "Chize treats vomiting and diarrhea, and hypochondriac pain." Clinically used for acute gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea, often combined with Weizhong (BL-40) – pricking the visible blood vessels at Chize to release blood, with cupping if bleeding is insufficient, stopping when the blood color changes. It clears blood heat and eliminates toxins.
Contraindications
This point should not be needled too deeply. The Suwen · Cijin Lun states: "Needling deeply into the center of the elbow causes qi to gather there, resulting in inability to flex and extend." Wang Bing commented: "The center of the elbow refers to the flexed elbow crease – that is Chize point." Deep needling should be avoided to prevent adverse effects. Although moxibustion is permissible, it is rarely used clinically, and scarring moxibustion is especially contraindicated as it may damage the joint.
