Lung channel of hand taiyin, woodcut illustration from 1817 edition of Bian Que maishu nan jing (Canon of Problems in Bian Que's Book of the Pulse) by Xiong Qinghu (Qing period).
Illustration of the lung channel of hand taiyin, showing the path of the channel and the location of acu-moxa points. In illustrations of the Ming and Qing periods, this channel of is generally depicted on a standing human figure, which makes it difficult to trace its course. This image, however, shows a figure seated on a low stool, with the left leg crossed over the right and the left arm raised, enabling the course of the channel to be shown in its entirety.
There are twenty-one acu-moxa locations on the lung channel of hand taiyin, on either side of the body. Those marked and labelled here are: shaoshang (Lesser Shang); yuji Fish Border); taiyuan (Great Abyss); jingqu (Channel Ditch); lieque (Break in the Sequence); kongzui (Utmost Opening); chize (Foot Marsh); xiabai (Clasping the White); tianfu (Palace of Heaven); yunmen (Cloud Portal); zhongfu (Middle Palace).
Other captions read: Bieluo (diverging channel): lieque (Break in the Sequence), pianli (Veering Passage). Zhengluo (main vessel): Belongs to the lung, connects with the large intestine channel, originates at zhongfu (Middle Palace), traverses pianli (Veering Passage), terminates in the hand.
Disorders of this channel are said to cause tightness in the chest, coughing, asthma, pain in the hollow of the collar bone, cold in the outer, anterior parts of the upper extremities, numbness and aching etc.
