Location

on the mamillary line, in the 6th intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the midline. A cun is the distance between the 2nd and 3rd knuckle, or the distance at the widest part of the thumb.

Needling

angular insertion (45 degrees) either towards the midline or away from the midline.

deep perpendicular insertion can puncture the lung (pneumothorax).

moxa is OK

Actions

Disperses and regulates liver Qi
Invigorates the blood and disperses masses
Harmonizes the liver and stomach

Signs and Symptoms

hypochondriac pain, abdominal distention, hiccup, acid regurgitation, mastitis, depression, febrile diseases, manic raving, alternating chills and fever, uterine bleeding, post partum disorders, malaria, gallstones, diabetes, running piglet qi,

Commentary

Qimen is the last point on the Liver channel, and is indeed the last point on the great cycle that begins with Zhongfu (lu1), and passes through every point on every channel in the body.

Qimen is the Front Mu point of the Liver, one of only 4 Mu and Shu points that is located on its own channel. A Mu point is where the Qi of a specific organ gathers and collects. Mu points are indicated specifically for organ disharmony, rather than channel disharmonies.

The Liver's main responsibility is to promote the free flow of Qi in the body. By far the most common Liver disharmony is Qi stagnation. If Liver Qi stagnates then Qi will tend to stagnate in the other organs. Interestingly, retained anger is a prime cause of Liver Qi stagnation. Irritability, propensity to anger, and frequent or heavy sighing are sure signs Liver Qi is stagnant.

Between them, Qimen (liv14) and Zhangmen (liv13), cover the 3 Jiao. The San Jiao refers to the action of water passage through the body, rather than to any specific organ. The upper Jiao refers to Heart/Lungs. The middle Jiao refers to Stomach/Spleen. The lower Jiao refers to the Kidneys, Intestines, Bladder etc..

Qimen, then, acts mainly on the middle and upper Jiao indicated for such symptoms as pain, fullness or distention of the lateral costal region (under the rib cage), cough, and sighing.

Qimen is especially recommended for breast pain or tenderness accompanying the menstrual cycle.

In TCM it is said that Qi moves blood. When Qi moves, blood moves. Prolonged Qi stagnation will lead to blood stagnation and the development of masses or hardness and stabbing pain in the chest, abdomen, and elsewhere. Qimen is able to move both Qi and blood and is indicated in any condition characterized by stabbing muscular pain such as Fibromyalgia, and especially stabbing pain in the region of the Heart.

According to the classics if one eats while angry the Stomach and Spleen will be injured. This supports the modern idea that you 'are what you eat.' It was well known to the ancients that emotional turmoil at meal times wreaked havoc on the digestive system, and hence the whole body. Qimen is able to harmonize Stomach and Liver and is indicated for gas, distention, acid reflux, vomiting, hiccup - all signs of Stomach disturbance due to Qi stagnation.

Finally, Qimen is an important point in the treatment of certain kinds of panic attacks, known to TCM as 'Running Piglet Qi.' In this condition, chaotic Qi arises in the abdomen and rushes to the throat with such ferocity that one loses one's breath and feels close to death.