LU7 Lieque Acupuncture Point Guide | Location & Safety

Practitioner Guide from The Acupuncture Supply Co.
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LU7, known as Lieque (“Broken Sequence”), is the Luo-Connecting point of the Lung channel and a confluent point of the Conception Vessel. Located on the radial aspect of the forearm above the wrist, it is traditionally selected in treatment strategies involving the Lung’s dispersing and descending functions, exterior Wind, the head and nape, and the paired Lung–Large Intestine channel relationship.

Although LU7 is a familiar distal point, reliable location depends on proportional measurement, tendon identification and palpation. This guide provides a concise reference for appropriately trained practitioners rather than a universal needling prescription or a self-treatment guide.

LU7 Lieque quick reference

Point name	LU7 — Lieque (“Broken Sequence”)
Channel	Lung channel of Hand Taiyin
Classification	Luo-Connecting point; confluent point of the Conception Vessel (Ren Mai)
Region	Radial aspect of the distal forearm
Laterality	Bilateral
Core landmark	Between the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons, 1.5 B-cun superior to the palmar wrist crease

Location of LU7 Lieque

The World Health Organization standard locates LU7 on the radial aspect of the forearm, between the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscles, in the groove for the abductor pollicis longus tendon, 1.5 B-cun superior to the palmar wrist crease.

How to locate LU7

1. Position the patient’s forearm comfortably with the wrist relaxed and the radial, or thumb, side accessible.
2. Identify the palmar wrist crease and the prominence of the radial styloid.
3. Ask for gentle thumb movement if needed to make the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons easier to identify.
4. Measure 1.5 B-cun proximally from the palmar wrist crease.
5. Palpate for the groove between the two tendons and confirm the local anatomy before selecting a technique.

The traditional crossed-hands method can provide a useful orientation: with the index fingers and thumbs interlocked, the tip of the index finger falls near LU7 above the opposite radial styloid. It is an estimate rather than a substitute for proportional measurement and palpation.

LU7 should not be confused with LU8, which lies closer to the wrist at 1 B-cun superior to the palmar wrist crease and nearer the radial artery, or with LI6 on the Large Intestine channel of the posterolateral forearm.

Traditional functions of LU7

Within traditional East Asian medicine, LU7 is commonly described as having the following functions:

• Releases the exterior and expels Wind.
• Supports the Lung’s dispersing and descending functions.
• Benefits the head, nape, nose and throat within an appropriate pattern strategy.
• Activates the Lung channel and its Luo vessel.
• Connects with and influences the paired Large Intestine channel.
• Opens and regulates the Conception Vessel when used within an appropriate extraordinary-vessel strategy.
• Supports the traditional regulation of the water passages.

These are traditional descriptions used in acupuncture theory. They should not be interpreted as claims that LU7 has been proven to diagnose, prevent or cure a respiratory, neurological or other medical condition.

Traditional clinical applications

LU7 may be considered within an individualised treatment plan when assessment and pattern differentiation indicate presentations involving:

• Exterior Wind patterns with chills, feverishness, nasal symptoms or body aches.
• Cough, wheeze or altered Lung Qi dynamics within a relevant traditional diagnosis.
• Sore throat, nasal congestion or dryness where the wider presentation supports its use.
• Headache, facial symptoms or stiffness affecting the nape and upper neck.
• Local discomfort affecting the radial wrist or distal forearm.
• Lung–Large Intestine channel disharmony within a complete treatment strategy.
• Conception Vessel presentations when LU7 is selected as the opening point and paired appropriately.

New, severe or worsening breathlessness, chest pain, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, coughing blood or other acute respiratory warning signs require urgent medical assessment. Acupuncture must not delay emergency care or appropriate investigation.

Common point combinations

Depending on the presentation and treatment principles, LU7 is traditionally combined with points such as:

• LU7 + LI4: traditionally considered in exterior Wind strategies and presentations affecting the head, nose or throat.
• LU7 + GB20: used in strategies involving exterior Wind, headache or nape stiffness.
• LU7 + KI6: the paired opening-point combination for the Conception and Yin Motility vessels, commonly considered for throat, chest and Yin-related presentations.
• LU7 + LU5: considered where regulating Lung Qi and addressing cough or wheeze form part of the traditional treatment principle.
• LU7 + ST36: used in some presentations where Lung function and constitutional support are addressed together.
• LU7 + LI11: traditionally considered in selected exterior or Heat presentations when supported by the full diagnosis.

These combinations are traditional examples, not fixed prescriptions. Selection, laterality, stimulation and treatment frequency should be adapted to the patient, the complete diagnosis and the practitioner’s accredited training.

Anatomy and practitioner notes

• Use the palmar wrist crease, radial styloid and thumb-tendon groove as the principal surface landmarks.
• Identify the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons by palpation; gentle thumb movement can help where the tendons are not visually prominent.
• The point region contains superficial veins and cutaneous nerve structures whose course can vary between individuals.
• Palpate for vascular pulsation and avoid needling a visible or palpable blood vessel.
• Do not assume that a crossed-hands landmark or illustration alone confirms the point.
• Assess for previous wrist or forearm injury, surgery, altered sensation, oedema, infection, bruising, skin damage or anatomical variation.
• Consider anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, bleeding disorders, frailty, needle sensitivity and fainting history.
• Document assessment, consent, point selection, technique and response in accordance with applicable professional standards.

Needling and practical safety

LU7 is commonly approached with a shallow oblique or transverse technique according to the practitioner’s training, the patient’s anatomy and the treatment intention. This guide deliberately does not prescribe one universal angle or depth: tissue dimensions and the course of superficial vessels and nerves vary, and safe technique depends on direct assessment.

• Use sterile, single-use acupuncture needles and appropriate hand hygiene, clean-field and sharps-disposal procedures.
• Do not needle through infected, inflamed, damaged or otherwise unsuitable skin.
• Avoid blind deep or forceful perpendicular insertion in the distal radial forearm.
• Use additional care where there is altered sensation, swelling, local trauma, previous surgery or increased bleeding risk.
• Stop and reassess if the patient experiences sharp electric pain, marked radiating sensation, unusual numbness, significant bleeding, faintness or another unexpected response.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion may be considered at LU7 in selected traditional patterns when it is clinically appropriate and within the practitioner’s training. Protect the skin carefully and avoid moxa where sensation is impaired, the skin is inflamed or damaged, heat is contraindicated, or the patient cannot reliably report excessive warmth.

When medical assessment takes priority

Respiratory symptoms can range from minor and self-limiting to urgent. Refer or escalate when symptoms are new, severe, unexplained, recurrent or progressive, or when the patient has chest pain, marked breathlessness, cyanosis, confusion, collapse, haemoptysis, suspected infection, significant oxygen desaturation or another red flag. Local wrist or forearm symptoms also warrant assessment where there is deformity, major trauma, rapidly increasing swelling, loss of circulation, progressive weakness or sensory loss.

Research note

LU7 appears in clinical and experimental acupuncture research, often as one point within a multi-point protocol. Such studies do not establish the independent effect of LU7, and findings from one condition, protocol or population should not be generalised. Traditional functions and research evidence should therefore be described separately and without exaggerated claims.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is LU7 located?

LU7 is on the radial aspect of the distal forearm, between the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons, 1.5 B-cun above the palmar wrist crease.

What does Lieque mean?

Lieque is commonly translated as “Broken Sequence”. The traditional name is associated with the branching or divergence of the Lung channel’s Luo vessel towards its paired Large Intestine channel.

Is LU7 on the wrist crease?

No. LU7 is on the forearm, 1.5 B-cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease. A marker placed directly on the wrist crease is too distal.

Why is LU7 paired with KI6?

LU7 is the confluent point of the Conception Vessel and KI6 is the confluent point of the Yin Motility Vessel. They are traditionally paired in extraordinary-vessel treatment strategies, especially where the throat, chest or Yin-related presentations are relevant to the diagnosis.

Can patients use this guide for self-needling?

No. This is a professional reference for qualified practitioners. It does not replace anatomical training, clinical assessment or supervised instruction in safe needling.

Continue exploring Project Lotus

Visit our Acupuncture Point Guides, read our LI4 Hegu Guide, GB20 Fengchi Guide or GV20 Baihui Guide.

Practitioners can also browse our collection of professional acupuncture needles or compare our ORCA silver-handle needles with guide tube and ORCA copper-handle needles with guide tube.

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Professional disclaimer: This article is provided for qualified acupuncture and healthcare practitioners for general educational purposes. Traditional actions and applications describe established acupuncture theory and are not claims of proven clinical efficacy. The content is not medical advice, does not replace accredited training and should not be used as a universal treatment protocol. Practitioners remain responsible for assessment, consent, safe technique, infection control, record keeping, referral and compliance with their professional and legal obligations.

Reference standards and safety reading:
World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region.
World Health Organization. Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture.
World Health Organization. WHO Benchmarks for the Practice of Acupuncture.
Huang CC, et al. Acupuncture: A Review of the Safety and Adverse Events and the Strategy of Potential Risk Prevention.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety.