Location

0.5 cun lateral to the midpoint of the posterior border of nasal wing, in the nasolabial fold.

Indications

Nasal obstruction and epistaxis;

Distorted mouth;

Ascariasis of biliary tract.

Actions

Dissipates wind and clears heat;

Unblocks and benefits nasal passage and other orifices.

Acupuncture

Obliquely insert the needle, slightly inward and upsward in direction, or transversely insert the needle, to a depth 0.3 to 0.5 cun.

Moxibustion

Prohibited.

LI 20 (Yingxiang) for rhinitis

In traditional Chinese medicine, the associated fluid of the Lung is nasal discharge and nose is the orifice of the Lung. The major symptoms of allergic rhinitis are nasal itchiness, runny nose and sneezing. Allergic rhinitis is hard-to-treat and very likely to recur and is differentiated as Lung qi deficiency which results in the Lung’s inability to control the nasal discharge and nose properly, or as the fight between healthy qi and pathogenic qi which leads to the failure of purifying and descending Lung qi. LI 20 (Yingxiang), next to nasal cavity, is the crossing point of the Large Intestine and the Stomach meridians. The Large Intestine and the Lung, exteriorly-interiorly related, pertain to metal; while the Stomach pertains to earth (the earth generates the metal in five-element theory). Therefore, stimulating LI 20 (Yingxiang) can not only unblock the nasal tract, but exert actions of strengthening the earth (Stomach) to generate metal (Lung) and nourishing the Lung to control nasal discharge. Ancient acupuncturists had the experience of stimulating LI 20 (Yingxiang) to treat nasal obstruction. For instance, the Jade Dragon Song (Yu Long Ge) mentions: “Bilateral LI 20 (Yingxiang) can be used to treat smelling disorder. Reinforcing prior to reducing techniques are applied to produce good outcome: free flow of qi is achieved even before needle withdrawal.” In clinical practice, LI 20 (Yingxiang) is lateral to the nose corners; thus, inserting the needle transversely toward the nasion can achieve needling sensation easily, which help to produce good therapeutic effects.