LR4 (Zhōng Fēng, “Middle Seal”) is the Jing-River point point of the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian. It is located on the anterior aspect of the ankle, in the depression 1 cun anterior to the prominence of the medial malleolus, medial to the tendon of the tibialis anterior muscle. The point is located by dorsiflexing the foot to reveal the depression. It spreads Liver Qi, regulates the lower jiao, clears Liver channel damp-heat, soothes the sinews.
On the anterior aspect of the ankle, in the depression 1 cun anterior to the prominence of the medial malleolus, medial to the tendon of the tibialis anterior muscle. The point is located by dorsiflexing the foot to reveal the depression.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, medial to the anterior tibial artery.
Spreads Liver Qi, regulates the lower jiao, clears Liver channel damp-heat, soothes the sinews.
Genital retraction into the abdomen with pulling pain in the sinews, seminal emission, flaccidity and reversal (wei jue), five types of urinary strangury (lin), inability to urinate, coldness of the feet, jaundice with slight fever, poor appetite, numbness of the body, cold hernia, pain in the waist, throat swelling, reversal counterflow, abdominal distension from the five zang, enlarged lower abdomen in women, difficult childbirth, dry throat, excessive thirst, hernia near the navel in women, pale and wan complexion as if about to die, difficulty breathing, difficult defecation, small lower abdomen swelling and pain, pain around the navel, loss of sensation in the body.
As the Jing-River and Metal point on the Liver channel, Zhongfeng is adept at clearing damp-heat from the lower jiao and Liver channel, making it a key point for urinary and genital disorders like urinary strangury, genital pain, and seminal emission. Its ability to soothe the sinews is highlighted in its use for pain and contraction in the lower abdomen and genitals. It also treats psycho-emotional states associated with Liver Qi constraint, such as a deathly pale complexion and sighing.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第三十 · Source: Wikisource ↗
小腹大字難，嗌干嗜飲，挾脊疝，刺中封，入四分，灸三壯，在內踝前一寸半，伸足取之The text records that for a large lower abdomen with difficult childbirth, dry throat with craving for drink, and shan alongside the spine, LR4 is needled 0.4 cun with 3 moxa cones; it lies 1.5 cun in front of the inner ankle and is located with the foot stretched.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第二 · Source: Wikisource ↗
妊娠一月，足厥陰脈養，不可針灸其經（如大敦、行間、太沖、中封、五裡The text states that in the first month of pregnancy, when the foot jueyin channel nourishes the fetus, its points, including LR4, must not be needled or moxibusted.
《子午流注針經》 Zǐwǔ Liúzhù Zhēnjīng — Needling Classic of the Midday-Midnight Flow, Yan Mingguang, c. 1153 · 卷下 · 針經井滎歌訣 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
中封為經內踝前，振寒痎瘧色蒼蒼，
臍腹痛時兼足冷，寒疝相纏針下康This verse records that LR4, the jing (river) point in front of the inner ankle, was used for shivering cold, intermittent malaria with a greenish complexion, periumbilical abdominal pain with cold feet, and entangled cold shan, and claims well-being after needling.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷09 · Source: Wikisource ↗
癲疝，陰暴痛（《千金》疝陰暴痛，痿厥，身體不仁），中封主之The text records that LR4 was used for tui-shan (scrotal swelling) and sudden genital pain (the Qianjin adds limpness with reversal and numbness of the body).
LR4 is one of 14 points on the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian. Nearby points:
LR4 (Zhōng Fēng) is located on the anterior aspect of the ankle, in the depression 1 cun anterior to the prominence of the medial malleolus, medial to the tendon of the tibialis anterior muscle. The point is located by dorsiflexing the foot to reveal the depression.
LR4 spreads Liver Qi, regulates the lower jiao, clears Liver channel damp-heat, soothes the sinews. Common clinical indications include genital retraction into the abdomen with pulling pain in the sinews, seminal emission, flaccidity and reversal (wei jue), five types of urinary strangury (lin), inability to urinate, coldness of the feet, jaundice with slight fever, poor appetite, numbness of the body, cold hernia, pain in the waist, throat swelling, reversal counterflow, abdominal distension from the five zang, enlarged lower abdomen in women, difficult childbirth, dry throat, excessive thirst, hernia near the navel in women, pale and wan complexion as if about to die, difficulty breathing, difficult defecation, small lower abdomen swelling and pain, pain around the navel, loss of sensation in the body.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, medial to the anterior tibial artery.
LR4 is a point on the Liver Channel of Foot Jueyin Meridian (Zú Juéyīn Gānjīng).