"Lu" (顱), head; "xi" (息), breath. The acupoint is close to ear, hence the name. Ancient texts state that "ear is the convergence point of head and breath vessels."

Another suggests that "xi" (息) is a miswriting of "xin" (囟, fontanel) . (see Zhenjiu Daquan), since the point is close to mastoid process of head, hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "On the blue collaterals behind ear";
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "Slightly above the back of ear, about 4-5 fen away from Chimai";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "1 cun above Chimai, slightly larger".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: temporalis fascia and temporalis muscle.
• Nerve: confluence branch of greater auricular nerve and lesser occipital nerve.
• Vessels: posterior auricular artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert horizontally or obliquely toward ear, at a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 cun, or use a pricking technique. Moxibustion with stick for 5 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Calm fright, open orifices, improve hearing.

• Classical: headache, dizziness, infantile fright epilepsy, spasm and convulsion, vomiting, wheezing, body heat and pain, brain and hypochondriac pain, facial itching, tinnitus, deafness, earache, ear swelling with discharge of pus.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Retinal hemorrhage: Luxi (TE19), Jiaosun (TE20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Hegu (LI4).
• Convulsions: Luxi (TE19), Taichong (LR3).