Large Intestine 4 can be used when someone, even after an adjustment, feels foggy, lightheaded or has a “not quite right” feeling in their head.
As part of our acupuncture training we learned that LI 4 is an influential point for the head.
To stimulate this point at home,
· First locate the point then either
· use a deep, firm pressure to massage and stimulate the area for 10 seconds or
· if you have an ENAR device, place an ENAR pad on each point, reset the device to the normal 60Hz setting, increase the power until you feel the pulses and stimulate for up to 10 minutes.
The point is located at the highest point of the muscle when thumb and index fingers are held together.
The ancient traditional Chinese medicine texts include a wide range of indications for He Gu (LI4) from headaches and constipation to general pain and delayed labour. A precaution for this point is that He Gu (LI4) may induce labour, so must never be used during pregnancy.
He Gu (LI4) is a point that has been extensively studied through randomized controlled trials and clinical research. Recent studies from the Journal of Orofacial Pain showed that the stimulation of He Gu (LI4) significantly reduced myofascial pain of the jaw muscles [2]. A recent Cochrane systematic review on acupuncture in migraine and tension-type headaches suggests stimulation of acupoints as an effective and valuable option for alleviating migraines and tension-type headaches [1].
Thanks to UCLA Center for East-West Medicine for some of the background information for this article: http://exploreim.ucla.edu/chinese-medicine/acupressure-point-li4/
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