LU2 (Yunmen, “Cloud Gate”) is the Entry/Exit point of the Lung Channel of Hand Taiyin Meridian. It is located on the upper chest, in a depression found below the lateral end of the clavicle (Jugu, LI16), 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline. The point is located in the infraclavicular fossa, medial to the coracoid process, where a pulsation of the axillary artery can be felt. It is best located with the arm raised. It clears Lung heat, disseminates and descends Lung Qi, soothes cough and wheezing, and alleviates pain in the shoulder and chest.
On the upper chest, in a depression found below the lateral end of the clavicle (Jugu, LI16), 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline. The point is located in the infraclavicular fossa, medial to the coracoid process, where a pulsation of the axillary artery can be felt. It is best located with the arm raised.
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Oblique insertion is directed laterally along the infraclavicular fossa. Perpendicular insertion is contraindicated due to the risk of pneumothorax.
Clears Lung heat, disseminates and descends Lung Qi, soothes cough and wheezing, and alleviates pain in the shoulder and chest.
Chest fullness, cough, rebellious Qi, shortness of breath, chest pain radiating to the back, goiter, throat impediment, shoulder and back pain, inability to raise the arm, reversal cold of the limbs, four limb swelling, inability to sleep, aversion to cold in the back, difficult breathing, upper arm pain, heat in the chest, reversal of Qi rising to the heart, interrupted pulse at the cun kou.
Yunmen is a key point for treating disorders of the chest and shoulder. It is particularly effective for conditions where Lung Qi fails to descend, leading to cough, wheezing, and a sensation of fullness in the chest. Its location also makes it useful for local conditions like shoulder pain and inability to raise the arm, especially when the pain radiates to the chest.
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 · 胸自雲門夾氣戶兩旁各二寸下行至食竇凡十二穴第十七 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
雲門二穴，禁灸。 主傷寒四肢熱不已，胸膈滿，兩脅痛，咳嗽喘氣，脅徹背痛，喉痹，癭瘤。 慎不可深刺According to this text, moxibustion is forbidden at LU2 (two points); it was used for cold-damage with unrelenting heat in the limbs, fullness of the chest and diaphragm, pain in both flanks, cough and panting, flank pain through to the back, throat-bi and goitre-like swellings, and one must take care not to needle deeply.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第二十九 · Source: Wikisource ↗
雲門，在巨骨下挾氣戶兩旁各二寸陷中動脈，應手舉臂取之It is located in the depression below the clavicle (jugu), 2 cun to each side of Qihu, where a pulse is felt, and is found with the arm raised, according to this text.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
云门巨骨下，气户旁二寸陷中。 禁针，灸五壮。 主呕逆上气，胸胁彻背痛，不能举臂，余同上According to this text, LU2 lies below the clavicle in a depression 2 cun lateral to Qihu; needling is forbidden and 5 moxa cones are applied. It was used for vomiting with rising qi, chest and flank pain through to the back, and inability to raise the arm.
《普濟方·針灸門》 Pǔjì Fāng · Zhēnjiǔ Mén — Formulas for Universal Relief: Acupuncture & Moxibustion Section, Zhu Su, 1406 · 卷四百十五 · 針灸門 · 膺腧部第四行左右十二穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
雲門二穴 在巨骨下。 俠氣戶旁各二寸陷中。 灸五壯。 針三分。 刺深使人氣逆。 不宜深刺According to this text, LU2 (two points) lies below the clavicle, 2 cun lateral to Qihu in a depression; it receives 5 moxa cones and is needled 3 fen, and deep needling is said to cause counterflow of qi, so it should not be needled deeply.
LU2 is one of 11 points on the Lung Channel of Hand Taiyin Meridian. Nearby points:
LU2 (Yunmen) is located on the upper chest, in a depression found below the lateral end of the clavicle (Jugu, LI16), 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline. The point is located in the infraclavicular fossa, medial to the coracoid process, where a pulsation of the axillary artery can be felt. It is best located with the arm raised.
LU2 clears Lung heat, disseminates and descends Lung Qi, soothes cough and wheezing, and alleviates pain in the shoulder and chest. Common clinical indications include chest fullness, cough, rebellious Qi, shortness of breath, chest pain radiating to the back, goiter, throat impediment, shoulder and back pain, inability to raise the arm, reversal cold of the limbs, four limb swelling, inability to sleep, aversion to cold in the back, difficult breathing, upper arm pain, heat in the chest, reversal of Qi rising to the heart, interrupted pulse at the cun kou.
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Oblique insertion is directed laterally along the infraclavicular fossa. Perpendicular insertion is contraindicated due to the risk of pneumothorax. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall. Multiple classical sources warn against deep needling, stating it can cause rebellious Qi (氣逆), shortness of breath, or inability to eat. The Qian Jin Yao Fang notes that in its time, many practitioners avoided needling this point altogether. The Zhen Jiu Ju Ying lists it among the points where deep needling should be avoided, as it can cause a person to faint or collapse.
LU2 is a point on the Lung Channel of Hand Taiyin Meridian (Shǒu Tàiyīn Fèijīng).