LU 7 (lieque): Location & Threading Needle Technique

The practitioner locates LU 7 in the depression 1.5 cun proximal to the transverse wrist crease. The depression, or more accurately a small fibro-osseous canal, is created by the abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon as it traverses over the radial styloid process.

To palpate this canal, the practitioner uses finger pressure into the canal from LU 7 under the APL tendon and toward LI 5 (yangxi) at a transverse angle of no more than 10˚ from the surface of the skin (Fig. 9-38A). A larger angle will not allow the practitioner to feel the canal created by the tendon over the bone.

Using the classical needle technique Tou Ci, the practitioner inserts a 1.5 inch/40 mm needle at the same transverse angle from LU 7 in the direction of LI 5. The needle will travel along the radial styloid and under the APL tendon (Fig. 9-38B). A qi sensation should be felt at LU 7 and will usually travel along the channel’s collateral branch toward LI 4 (hegu). 

The author uses this technique but for most instances of needling LU  7 and this technique also helps in the treatment protocol of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.

Check out this video (cadaver image) of the nerve relationship between the Lung channel connecting-luo point LU 7 and it’s paired Large Intestine channel’s source-yuan point LI 4.