LR13 (Zhāng Mén, “Zhāng Mén”) is the Front-Mu point of the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian. It is located on the lateral aspect of the abdomen, directly inferior to the free end of the 11th floating rib. This point is located by having the patient lie on their side, bend the upper leg and straighten the lower leg, and raise their arm; the point is found at the tip of the elbow when it is brought to the side. It harmonizes the Liver and Spleen, regulates Qi in the Middle Jiao, invigorates blood, resolves masses and accumulations, and clears damp-heat.
On the lateral aspect of the abdomen, directly inferior to the free end of the 11th floating rib. This point is located by having the patient lie on their side, bend the upper leg and straighten the lower leg, and raise their arm; the point is found at the tip of the elbow when it is brought to the side.
Perpendicular or oblique insertion 0.8-1.5 cun. Caution is advised to avoid deep needling, which may puncture the spleen (on the left) or liver (on the right), especially in cases of organomegaly.
Harmonizes the Liver and Spleen, regulates Qi in the Middle Jiao, invigorates blood, resolves masses and accumulations, and clears damp-heat.
Abdominal distention, borborygmus, indigestion, vomiting after eating, diarrhea, pain in the chest and hypochondrium preventing one from lying down, pain in the lumbar region and spine, inability to turn at the waist, weakness and lassitude of the four limbs, shortness of breath, cough, body wasting and emaciation with jaundice, abdominal masses like a drum, running piglet qi (ben tun), fearfulness, frequent urination with white turbidity, inability to raise the shoulder and arm, chest and hypochondriac fullness, heart pain with vomiting, coldness and pain in the lumbar spine, overflow-pattern drinking, fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondrium.
As the Front-Mu point of the Spleen and the Influential point of the Zang organs, Zhangmen is a primary point for harmonizing the Liver and Spleen. It is essential for treating digestive disorders stemming from Liver Qi stagnation invading the Spleen, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea alternating with constipation. Its ability to move Qi and blood also makes it effective for hypochondriac pain and palpable masses in the abdomen.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫宗金鑑·刺灸心法要訣》 Yīzōng Jīnjiàn · Cìjiǔ Xīnfǎ Yàojué — Golden Mirror of Medicine: Essential Teachings on Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wu Qian et al., 1742 · 卷七 · 胸腹部主病針灸要穴歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
章門主治痞塊病，但灸左邊可拔根，若灸腎積臍下氣，兩邊齊灸自然平This verse records that LR13 was used for abdominal lumps (pi), saying moxa on the left side alone could remove the root, and that for kidney accumulation with qi below the navel both sides were moxibusted together so it would settle.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之八·陰陽臟腑部 · 穴法下 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
章門二穴，脾之募也，在大橫外直臍季脅端，側臥屈上足伸下足舉臂取之，足厥陰太陽之會。 針入六分，灸百壯According to this text, LR13 is the front-mu point of the spleen, lateral to Daheng at the level of the navel at the tip of the free rib; it is located lying on the side with the upper leg bent, the lower leg straight and the arm raised; needle 0.6 cun, 100 moxa cones.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷四 · Source: Wikisource ↗
有足厥陰之章門焉，灸不可不及， 不及則不免有氣血壅滯之嫌The text states that at LR13 of the foot jueyin, moxibustion must not be insufficient, since too little risks stagnation of qi and blood.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
章门脐上二寸，横取六寸，侧胁季肋端陷中，侧卧屈上足，伸下足，举臂取之。 针八分，灸三壮至百壮止According to this text, LR13 lies 2 cun above the navel and 6 cun lateral, in the depression at the tip of the free rib on the side, located lying on the side with the upper leg bent, the lower leg straight and the arm raised; needle 0.8 cun, moxa from 3 up to 100 cones.
LR13 is one of 14 points on the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian. Nearby points:
LR13 (Zhāng Mén) is located on the lateral aspect of the abdomen, directly inferior to the free end of the 11th floating rib. This point is located by having the patient lie on their side, bend the upper leg and straighten the lower leg, and raise their arm; the point is found at the tip of the elbow when it is brought to the side.
LR13 harmonizes the Liver and Spleen, regulates Qi in the Middle Jiao, invigorates blood, resolves masses and accumulations, and clears damp-heat. Common clinical indications include abdominal distention, borborygmus, indigestion, vomiting after eating, diarrhea, pain in the chest and hypochondrium preventing one from lying down, pain in the lumbar region and spine, inability to turn at the waist, weakness and lassitude of the four limbs, shortness of breath, cough, body wasting and emaciation with jaundice, abdominal masses like a drum, running piglet qi (ben tun), fearfulness, frequent urination with white turbidity, inability to raise the shoulder and arm, chest and hypochondriac fullness, heart pain with vomiting, coldness and pain in the lumbar spine, overflow-pattern drinking, fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondrium.
Perpendicular or oblique insertion 0.8-1.5 cun. Caution is advised to avoid deep needling, which may puncture the spleen (on the left) or liver (on the right), especially in cases of organomegaly. Caution: Overlies abdominal organs (liver/spleen/kidney/gallbladder) — avoid deep perpendicular insertion; risk of organ puncture. One source (Zi Sheng Jing) notes that it is better not to needle this point, though this is a minority opinion among the classics provided.
LR13 is a point on the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian (Zú Juéyīn Gānjīng).