Laogong (PC8)
Laogong (PC8), “Palace of Toil”, is a point on the Pericardium meridian. It is point 8 of the 9 on the channel. Clears Heart fire, cools blood, calms the mind, treats Heart fire syndromes.
Location
In the center of the palm, between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals, where the middle finger tip touches when fist is clenched.
Functions according to tradition
Clears Heart fire, cools blood, calms the mind, treats Heart fire syndromes.
Traditional indications
- High fever
- Mouth ulcers
- Excessive palm sweating
- Mental agitation
- Heatstroke
- Loss of consciousness
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
What its classification means
Second of the five transport points: the Qi “glides”. Tradition reserves it mainly for heat in the channel itself.
Precautions
Tender and painful to needle: apply shallowly.
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.
- LU11 Shaoshang (Lung): High fever, Loss of consciousness
- GV26 Shuigou (Du Mai (Governing Vessel)): Loss of consciousness
- GV27 Duiduan (Du Mai (Governing Vessel)): Mouth ulcers
- HT8 Shaofu (Heart): Mouth ulcers
- HT9 Shaochong (Heart): Loss of consciousness
- ST23 Taiyi (Stomach): Mental agitation
Point profile
- Code
- PC8
- Pinyin name
- Láo Gōng
- Characters
- 劳宫
- Translation
- Palace of Toil
- Meridian
- Pericardium
- Element
- Fire
- Classification
- Ying-Spring
- Topics
- Heat, Mental, Hands
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.
