Qimen (LV14)
Qimen (LV14), “Cycle Gate”, is a point on the Liver meridian. It is point 14 of the 14 on the channel. Front-Mu of Liver.
Location
In the 6th intercostal space, directly below the pupil, in the mammillary line.
Functions according to tradition
Front-Mu of Liver. Smooths Liver Qi, resolves Liver Qi stagnation, harmonizes Liver and Stomach, invigorates Blood.
Traditional indications
- Hypochondriac pain
- Hepatitis
- Gastritis
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Mastitis
- Emotional stress
- Rib pain
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
What its classification means
On the chest or abdomen, where the Qi of an organ “gathers”. Its tenderness to pressure guides diagnosis; it is used more in acute conditions and those of the fu organs.
Precautions
Intercostal point: shallow oblique or transverse needling. NEVER deep perpendicular needling: risk of pneumothorax.
Points on other channels with similar indications
They share several traditional indications with this point. Comparing them helps understand why one or the other is chosen.
- BL47 Hunmen (Bladder): Hypochondriac pain, Vomiting
- KI23 Shenfeng (Kidney): Mastitis, Vomiting
- PC1 Tianchi (Pericardium): Hypochondriac pain, Mastitis
- CV12 Zhongwan (Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)): Diarrhea, Gastritis
- KI19 Yindu (Kidney): Hypochondriac pain, Vomiting
- SP3 Taibai (Spleen): Diarrhea, Vomiting
Point profile
- Code
- LV14
- Pinyin name
- Qī Mén
- Characters
- 期门
- Translation
- Cycle Gate
- Meridian
- Liver
- Element
- Wood
- Classification
- Front-Mu (LV)
- Topics
- Liver, Chest, Lateral Pain
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
