LR3 (Tài Chōng, “Tài Chōng”) is the Shu-Stream point of the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian. It is located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones, approximately 2 cun proximal to the margin of the web between the first and second toes. The point is located over the pulsation of the dorsal pedal artery. It spreads Liver Qi, subdues internal Wind, clears heat from the blood, regulates the lower jiao, and calms the spirit.
On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones, approximately 2 cun proximal to the margin of the web between the first and second toes. The point is located over the pulsation of the dorsal pedal artery.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Avoid the dorsal pedal artery.
Spreads Liver Qi, subdues internal Wind, clears heat from the blood, regulates the lower jiao, and calms the spirit.
Jaundice, epidemic jaundice (ma huang), epidemic disease, axillary swelling, scrofula (ma dao), sores, breast abscess (ru yong), women's leakage of blood, women's hernia, swelling of the lower abdomen, difficult urination (long), bedwetting, genital pain, dark and dusty complexion, pain below the eye, heart pain with a wiry pulse, shoulder swelling, lip injury, lassitude with swelling, lower back pain extending to the small abdomen, retraction of both testicles, watery diarrhea, difficult bowel movements, bloody stools, urinary dripping, small intestine hernia pain, hernia, vomiting blood, vomiting, cold sensation, dry throat, thirst, elbow swelling, pain in the front of the inner ankle, numbness and weakness of the limbs, sourness in the limbs, swollen lips, sudden hernia in children, heart pain with a death-like pale green complexion, inability to catch one's breath all day, difficult labor, retained placenta, postpartum bleeding, blood stasis in the lower abdomen.
As the Yuan-Source and Shu-Stream point of the Liver channel, Tai Chong is a principal point for regulating the Liver's function of ensuring the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. It is exceptionally versatile, used for conditions of excess such as anger, headache, and hypertension, as well as for deficiency patterns involving Liver blood or yin, such as menstrual irregularities and dizziness. Its ability to treat issues in the head, chest, abdomen, and genitals demonstrates its powerful influence over the entire channel and its associated organ.
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 · 卷一 · 十二經表裡原絡總歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
足厥陰肝經病，可刺本經里之原穴，即太衝穴也The text records that for diseases of the foot jueyin liver channel one may needle the channel's source (yuan) point, which is LR3.
《類經》 Lèijīng — Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 二十八卷·运气类 · 四十三、十二脏神失守位邪鬼外干之刺 · Source: Wikisource ↗
太冲穴也。 用长针，于口中先温，
以手按穴，刺入三分，留三呼，次进二分，留二呼，徐徐出针，以手扪其穴The text describes needling at LR3: a long needle is first warmed in the mouth, the point is pressed with the hand, the needle inserted 0.3 cun and retained 3 breaths, then advanced 0.2 cun and retained 2 breaths, withdrawn slowly, and the point is pressed closed with the hand.
《神灸經綸》 Shénjiǔ Jīnglún — Principles of Divine Moxibustion, Wu Yiding, 1851 · 卷之三 · 傷寒宜灸 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
傷寒六七日脈微手足厥冷而煩躁灸厥陰厥不還者死常器之云可灸太衝The text records that in cold damage of six or seven days with a faint pulse, cold hands and feet and agitation, the jueyin is moxibusted, and if the cold limbs do not recover the case is fatal; Chang Qizhi says LR3 may be moxibusted.
《黃帝內經》 Huángdì Nèijīng — The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, c. 2nd–1st c. BCE · jue-bing · Source: Wikisource ↗
厥心痛，色蒼蒼如死狀，終日不得太息，肝心痛也，取之行間、太衝The text records that reversal heart pain with a greenish, deathly complexion and inability to sigh all day is called liver heart pain, and is treated by using LR2 and LR3.
LR3 is one of 14 points on the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian. Nearby points:
LR3 (Tài Chōng) is located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones, approximately 2 cun proximal to the margin of the web between the first and second toes. The point is located over the pulsation of the dorsal pedal artery.
LR3 spreads Liver Qi, subdues internal Wind, clears heat from the blood, regulates the lower jiao, and calms the spirit. Common clinical indications include jaundice, epidemic jaundice (ma huang), epidemic disease, axillary swelling, scrofula (ma dao), sores, breast abscess (ru yong), women's leakage of blood, women's hernia, swelling of the lower abdomen, difficult urination (long), bedwetting, genital pain, dark and dusty complexion, pain below the eye, heart pain with a wiry pulse, shoulder swelling, lip injury, lassitude with swelling, lower back pain extending to the small abdomen, retraction of both testicles, watery diarrhea, difficult bowel movements, bloody stools, urinary dripping, small intestine hernia pain, hernia, vomiting blood, vomiting, cold sensation, dry throat, thirst, elbow swelling, pain in the front of the inner ankle, numbness and weakness of the limbs, sourness in the limbs, swollen lips, sudden hernia in children, heart pain with a death-like pale green complexion, inability to catch one's breath all day, difficult labor, retained placenta, postpartum bleeding, blood stasis in the lower abdomen.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Avoid the dorsal pedal artery. Caution: Avoid puncturing the dorsal pedal artery, which is often palpable at this location.
LR3 is a point on the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian (Zú Juéyīn Gānjīng).