A Spot on Your Forearm That Soothes Pain

The acupoint Xia Lian supports intestinal function and helps relieve abdominal pain and borborygmus—the gurgling sounds in the abdomen.

LI8 Lower Ridge (Xia Lian) The Epoch Times

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) spans across two millennia, with its foundational text, the “Huang Di Nei Jing” (“The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon”), shaping how generations of physicians view the body and disease. However, not all acupoints enjoy equal treatment across time. Some gain fame, while others fade into footnotes.

One acupoint, the Lower Ridge (Xia Lian, LI8), located on the forearm, belongs to the latter group. While it once held a solid place in ancient protocols, its presence in current clinical practice is limited to supportive roles. However, limited attention doesn’t mean limited function.

Once Cited, Now Overlooked

Xia Lian first appeared in the “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon.” Its role is to clear the stomach and intestinal heat. In TCM, “heat” refers to a pathogenic state, not temperature. Heat can develop from eating too many “heaty” foods such as lamb, black pepper, chili peppers, mangoes, or durian fruit.