LV 3 — Tài Chōng (太冲) — Great Rushing
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1. Overview
LV 3 — Tài Chōng (太冲) — is an acupuncture point on the Liver meridian. Its English name, Great Rushing, reflects the point’s classical character and location. It is one of the most clinically important points in acupuncture practice and is used regularly in the treatment of a range of conditions.
I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a member of the British Acupuncture Council with over 25 years of clinical experience. I use LV 3 as part of individually tailored acupuncture prescriptions at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire.
2. Location
On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.
3. Actions
- Spreads Liver Qi and relieves constraint — the most important Liver Qi-moving point
- Calms the Liver and descends Liver Yang
- Nourishes Liver Blood and Yin
- Subdues Liver Wind
- Clears Liver Fire and Damp-Heat
- Regulates menstruation
4. Indications
- Stress, irritability, anger and emotional constraint from Liver Qi stagnation
- Headache, dizziness and hypertension from Liver Yang rising
- Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and PMS from Liver Qi stagnation
- Insomnia from Liver Yang disturbing the Mind
- Rib and flank pain from Liver Qi constraint
- Eye disorders — red eyes, blurred vision and dry eyes from Liver deficiency
- Epilepsy and tremor from internal Wind
- Foot pain and plantar fasciitis
5. Needling
Perpendicular insertion 0.5–1.0 cun.
Important: Acupuncture should only be performed by a fully qualified practitioner. Never attempt self-needling. All needles I use are sterile, single-use and disposed of immediately after treatment in a clinical sharps container.
6. Clinical notes
LV 3 is the Yuan-Source and Shu-Stream point of the Liver meridian and is one of the most clinically important and widely used points in acupuncture. Its partnership with LI 4 — the 'Four Gates' combination — is the most potent and broadly applicable two-point formula in acupuncture, powerfully moving Qi and Blood throughout the entire body and releasing constraint. LV 3 is fundamental in any condition involving Liver Qi stagnation — stress, anxiety, depression, PMS, irregular periods, headache and IBS. Combined with GB 20 it powerfully descends Liver Yang for hypertension and migraine.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I use LV 3 as part of tailored acupuncture prescriptions for conditions including Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Migraines, High blood pressure, Irregular menstrual cycle, Plantar fasciitis. Each treatment is individually designed following a full TCM assessment.
I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Visit the prices page for consultation fees. Return to the acupuncture points directory or the acupuncture main page.
