LI1 (Shangyang, “Metal Yang”) is the Jing-Well Point point of the Large Intestine Meridian. It is located on the radial side of the index finger, approximately 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail bed. It clears heat, revives consciousness, reduces swelling, and alleviates pain, particularly along the channel and in the sensory orifices.
On the radial side of the index finger, approximately 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail bed.
Perpendicular or oblique insertion 0.1-0.2 cun, or pricked to bleed. The point is very sensitive.
Clears heat, revives consciousness, reduces swelling, and alleviates pain, particularly along the channel and in the sensory orifices.
Chest fullness, cough, wheezing, swelling with distention, heat disease without sweating, tinnitus, deafness, malaria with mouth dryness, jaw and chin swelling, toothache with aversion to cold, shoulder and back tension, pain in the supraclavicular fossa, blue-green blindness , mouth and tongue dryness, inability to eat or drink, sore throat.
As the Jing-Well point of the Large Intestine channel, Shangyang is a primary point for expelling acute pathogenic factors, especially heat, from the opposite end of the channel. It is classically indicated for high fever, sore throat, toothache, and reviving consciousness. Its ability to clear heat and reduce swelling makes it effective for acute, painful conditions of the head and face. Pricking to bleed is a common and effective method for these excess conditions.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 手陽明大腸凡二十八穴第二十六 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
商陽二穴，主胸中氣滿，喘咳支痛，熱病不汗，耳鳴耳聾，寒熱痎瘧，口乾頰腫，齒痛，目盲，肩背急引The text records that LI1 was used for qi fullness in the chest, panting and cough with propping pain, febrile disease without sweating, tinnitus and deafness, chills and fever with intermittent malaria, dry mouth and swollen cheeks, toothache, blindness, and tension pulling in the shoulders and back.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第二 · Source: Wikisource ↗
妊娠八月，手陽明脈養，不可針灸其經（如商陽、二間、合谷、上下廉、三裡The text states that in the eighth month of pregnancy, when the hand yangming channel nourishes the fetus, its points, including LI1, must not be needled or moxibusted.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷26 · Source: Wikisource ↗
商陽在手大指次指內側，去爪甲角如韭葉According to this text, LI1 lies on the inner side of the finger next to the thumb (the index finger), about the width of a chive leaf from the corner of the nail.
《鍼灸聚英》 Zhēnjiǔ Jùyīng — Gathering of Eminent Acupuncturists, Gao Wu, 1529 · Source: Wikisource ↗
庚大腸商陽（井金）耳聾並齒痛This verse lists LI1 as the well (jing) and metal point of the large intestine (geng) and records its use for deafness and toothache.
LI1 is one of 20 points on the Large Intestine Meridian. Nearby points:
LI1 (Shangyang) is located on the radial side of the index finger, approximately 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail bed.
LI1 clears heat, revives consciousness, reduces swelling, and alleviates pain, particularly along the channel and in the sensory orifices. Common clinical indications include chest fullness, cough, wheezing, swelling with distention, heat disease without sweating, tinnitus, deafness, malaria with mouth dryness, jaw and chin swelling, toothache with aversion to cold, shoulder and back tension, pain in the supraclavicular fossa, blue-green blindness , mouth and tongue dryness, inability to eat or drink, sore throat.
Perpendicular or oblique insertion 0.1-0.2 cun, or pricked to bleed. The point is very sensitive.
LI1 is a point on the Large Intestine Meridian (Shǒu Yángmíng Dàcháng Jīng).