I felt moved to write this piece after a conversation I had with a colleague. We were exchanging thoughts and perspectives, and it sparked in me the need to put some of these ideas down in writing. While this article reflects my own take on the subject, I want to acknowledge that the discussion played a role in shaping the way I approached it.

LI-11, also known as Quchi, is a He-Sea point on the Hand Yangming Large Intestine channel. The Yangming channels are unique in that they carry an abundance of Qi and blood, making them powerful tools in treatment.

• He-Sea point → deep reservoir of Qi.
• Mother point → tonifying effect for the Large Intestine channel.
• Balancing effect → particularly with the Kidney channel, the water element.

Classically, LI-11 is known as a point that “clears heat.” I look at this from another angle. Since it is both a mother point and linked with the Kidney through channel balance, I believe that its ability to tonify Kidney water explains why it cools the body’s excess heat.

Think of it like barbecuing over charcoal. If the fire gets too hot and the food begins to burn, we don’t put the fire out completely. We just spray a little water to take the edge off. That’s what LI-11 does — it balances excessive Yang without extinguishing it.

In clinic, this plays out in conditions like:

• Burning rashes
• Itchy, inflamed skin
• Heat syndromes that need “tempering” rather than extinguishing

But LI-11 isn’t just about clearing heat. By supporting the Kidney channel, it strengthens the body’s “battery.” To me, the Kidneys are the battery of the body — you can keep plugging in, but if the battery can’t hold the charge, you’re wasting resources. Strengthening the Kidney alongside LI-11 helps people with:

• Chronic fatigue
• Non-restorative sleep (“I never feel rested no matter how much I sleep”)

In those cases, I’ll often combine LI-11 with points that touch bone, like Linggu or Dabai, especially when there are signs of Kidney deficiency involving the bones.

TI shouldn’t get too ahead of myself, but I’ll give you a preview of my next talk: Lung-7. This point, a connecting point and a confluent point of the Ren, ties into Kidney Yin in a way that fascinates me. Lung-7 commands the head and neck but also indirectly nourishes the Kidneys — a topic worth a full discussion on its own.

Back to LI-11. In practice, I use the Hand Yangming channel more often than the Foot Yangming. Stomach channel has its place, but the Large Intestine channel feels especially relevant for modern life. Why? Because today’s world drains our batteries: stress, overwork, caffeine, poor sleep, irregular meals. Hand Yangming offers balance in the middle of that chaos.

I often carry this concept into herbal prescriptions. One of my go-to combinations is:

• Buzhong Yi Qi Tang (tonifies Qi, lifts)
• Zuo Gui Wan (nourishes Yin)

Blended 50/50, this provides balance between Qi and Yin — like water meeting fire. Depending on the case, I adjust the ratio. More heat? Then more Yin. Weak digestion? Then more Qi.

These formulas, when combined with warmth (heat lamps, moxa, rest), help the body restore its Yang natural balance.

Chinese medicine teaches us flexibility:

• One treatment can address many disorders.
• One disorder can be treated many ways.

For me, LI-11 is more than just a “clear heat” point. It’s a reminder of balance — fire and water, battery and charge, the right amount of mist on the barbecue. It has become one of my most reliable tools in helping patients reclaim energy and calm the chaos inside their bodies.