Laogong Point (PC-8 / Palace of Toil, also known as Wuli, Zhangzhong, Guiku, Guiluo)
Clears heart fire and drains heat, descends rebellious qi and removes dampness. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for throat, gastrointestinal, and heart diseases.
Indications
Palmar itching, stroke with coma, heatstroke, and angina pectoris. (1) Heart fire ascending disorders: Oral ulcers, halitosis, epistaxis. (2) Mental disorders: Restlessness with insomnia, manic-depressive disorders, hysteria, incessant laughter. (3) Emergency: Stroke with coma, heatstroke, angina pectoris. (4) Skin disorders: Eczema, tinea manuum, acute pruritus.
Precise Location
Located on the Pericardium Meridian, at the center of the palm – the point where the tip of the middle finger rests when the fist is clenched.
Location Method
Extend the hand with slight flexion at approximately 45°, palm facing up, lightly clench the fist toward the palm – the point is where the middle finger corresponds to the center of the palm.
Massage Method
Press vertically with the thumbnail – a stinging sensation will occur. Apply to both hands once each morning and evening for 1–3 minutes, left first then right. Therapeutic actions: Clears heart fire and drains heat, opens the orifices and revives the spirit, reduces swelling and stops itching.
Compatibility
Diabetes: Combine with Zusanli (ST-36), Xuehai (SP-10), Liangqiu (ST-34), and Chengshan (BL-57). Disease overview: Caused by yin deficiency with weak five zang, or improper diet, excessive rich food, emotional disturbance, or overexertion – leading to kidney yin deficiency with lung-stomach dryness-heat. The pathogenesis centers on yin deficiency with dryness-heat – yin deficiency is the root, dryness-heat is the branch. Over time, yin deficiency injures yang, resulting in dual deficiency. Massage sequence: Press Laogong for 1 minute; knead Zusanli for 1 minute on each side; knead Xuehai (highest point of tightened lateral thigh muscle) for 1 minute on each side; knead Liangqiu (highest point of tightened medial thigh muscle) for 1 minute on each side; knead Chengshan (depression below the highest point of tightened lateral calf muscle) for 1 minute on each side. Tinea manuum: Combine with Hegu (LI-4). Halitosis: Combine with Shuigou (GV-26), Daling (PC-7), and Laogong (PC-8). Oral ulcers: Combine with Zhaohai (KI-6). Halitosis: Combine with Daling (PC-7), Shuigou (GV-26), and Neiting (ST-44). Tinea manuum: Combine with Baxie (EX-UE9) and Quchi (LI-11). Heatstroke and coma: Combine with Shuigou (GV-26) and Yongquan (KI-1). Eczema: Combine with Weizhong (BL-40). Incessant laughter and halitosis: Combine with Daling (PC-7). Jaundice: Combine with Ganshu (BL-18) and Qimen (LR-14). Acute vomiting and diarrhea: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6).
Efficacy & Actions
Laogong belongs to the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and is the Ying-Spring point where the meridian qi flows, corresponding to the Fire element in the five-element theory. It clears the heart and opens the orifices, drains fire and calms the spirit, clears heat and drains dampness. It is the primary point for heart spirit excess heat patterns, with reducing technique commonly used. First documented in Lingshu · Benshu. "Lao" means labor or work; "Gong" means palace or center. The hands are the primary organs of human labor – and this point is located at the center of the palm – hence the name Laogong (Palace of Toil). It is also known as "Wuli," "Zhangzhong," "Guiku," and "Guiluo." The Yizong Jinjian states: "It treats phlegm-fire chest pain, infantile sores, and tinea manuum." Those suffering from tinea manuum experience intense itching on both palms and dorsal hands – pressing Laogong helps relieve the itch. Regular pressing of Laogong can also help control blood pressure. (1) Key Point for Clearing Heart Heat: The heart opens to the tongue. Laogong is the Ying-Spring point, corresponding to Fire – the Nanjing · 66th Difficulty states: "Ying points treat body heat." Clearing heart fire is the primary function of Laogong. Clinically used for oral ulcers, swollen painful gums, red painful eyes, hematemesis, epistaxis, and halitosis due to heart fire ascending – especially effective for oral ulcers. The heart opens to the tongue; the tongue is the sprout of the heart. When heart fire ascends to the tongue, qi and blood congestion causes heat-putrefaction sores. As the Pericardium Meridian point, the Pericardium acts on behalf of the heart, treating heart disorders. The Fourteen Meridians Key Points Song states: "Phlegm-fire chest pain is treated by Laogong; infantile oral ulcers are relieved by needling." (2) Common Emergency Point: One of the Nine Points for Returning Yang, it opens the orifices and revives the spirit – especially effective for stroke coma due to liver yang rising. As this point corresponds to Fire, and Fire is the child of Wood, it both clears heart heat and drains liver fire – used for manic disorders, epilepsy, heatstroke, and other acute conditions. (3) Treats Mental Disorders: The Zhenjiu Jiayijing records: "Wind-heat with irritability, alternating joy and sorrow, and incessant laughter – Laogong is the primary point." The Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing states: "Laogong and Daling treat incessant laughter." As the Ying-Spring point of the Pericardium, it clears heart fire and calms the spirit – treating mental disorders caused by heart fire ascending or phlegm-fire clouding the orifices, including insomnia, hysteria, and incessant laughter. (4) Treats Certain Skin Disorders: As the Fire point on the Fire meridian, when the mother (heart) disorder affects the child (spleen), spleen dysfunction with internal damp-heat can cause skin conditions such as eczema. TCM holds that "all pain, itching, and sores relate to the heart" – thus treating certain skin disorders, especially acute episodes with severe itching. Especially effective for tinea manuum. The Zhenjiu Fengyuan states: "It treats stroke with incessant laughter, phlegm-fire chest pain, epistaxis, thirst, oral ulcers, and tinea manuum."
Contraindications
Reducing technique is primarily used; reinforcing is generally not suitable. Moxibustion is permissible but rarely used.
