Stomach or Spleen? LR 14 vs LR 13

When Liver-Qi invades the Middle Burner, the exam asks for one point. The two answers sit next to each other on the channel and next to each other in your memory. Here is how to keep them apart.

Trap type: look-alike facts Zang-Fu · Liver Acupoints Study note Stage 2 level

Sources: The Foundations of Chinese Medicine (3rd Edition) (FCM) Ch.34.

The trap

The question usually looks like this:

Rebellious Liver-Qi is invading the Stomach. Which point is the main point to harmonize the Liver and the Stomach? A) LR 13 (Zhangmen) B) LR 14 (Qimen) …

Many students know it is “one of the two” and guess.

Both are Liver-channel points on the side of the trunk, one number apart, and both harmonize the Liver with a digestive organ. Only the target organ is different.

Why it catches people

The two patterns share their first half: Liver-Qi pushes sideways into digestion, and the pulse is Wiry. Students learn the shared half well and the second half loosely. The point question then tests exactly the second half.

Sort the clues

Put every sign in the stem into one of three boxes. Only the outer two boxes can decide.

Stomach is hit

Liver invading the Stomach → LR 14

  • Belching, sour regurgitation
  • Nausea, vomiting, hiccups
  • Epigastric distension and pain
  • Pulse Wiry on both Middle positions

Shared

Don’t decide on these

  • Worse with stress, irritability
  • Distension
  • Wiry pulse
  • Tongue light red or red sides

Spleen is hit

Liver invading the Spleen → LR 13

  • Constipation and loose stools in turn
  • Abdominal distension and pain
  • Flatulence, tiredness
  • Pulse Wiry on the left, Weak on the right

Wiry on the left with Weak on the right can also appear when the Stomach is invaded (FCM). The digestive signs decide, not the pulse.

Three checks before you answer

  1. Find the direction of the digestive signs

    Things going up (belching, sour regurgitation, nausea, hiccups) mean the Stomach cannot send Qi down. Bowel signs (stools alternating) mean the Spleen.

  2. Match the organ to the point

    LR 13 is the Front-Mu point of the Spleen, so it goes with the Spleen. LR 14 is the other one: Liver and Stomach.

  3. Split the method

    Both are combined patterns: reduce the points that harmonize the Liver, reinforce the points that tonify the Stomach or Spleen.

A quick way to hold it Thirteen is the Spleen’s own Front-Mu point. If you remember that one fact, LR 14 is left for the Stomach.
한국어 요점
  • Liver-Qi가 위(Stomach)를 치면 위로 올라오는 증상(트림 · 신물 · 오심 · 구토 · 딸꾹질), 비(Spleen)를 치면 대변 증상(변비와 설사 교대).
  • 혈: Stomach = LR 14(Qimen), Spleen = LR 13(Zhangmen). LR 13은 Spleen의 모혈(Front-Mu)이라 Spleen 쪽 — 이것 하나만 기억하면 LR 14는 Stomach.
  • 스트레스 · 짜증 · 창만 · Wiry 맥은 공통이라 가르지 못한다. 맥보다 소화 증상의 방향으로 가른다.
  • 수기: 둘 다 복합 패턴이라 Liver 쪽은 사(瀉), Stomach · Spleen 쪽은 보(補).

Try it

Three questions with the same trap. Pick an answer to see the explanation.

Question 1 of 3 · Easy

A 46-year-old woman gets epigastric distension and pain whenever work is stressful. She belches often, has sour regurgitation and feels nauseous after meals. She is irritable. Tongue: light red. Pulse: Wiry on both Middle positions. Which point does FCM give as the main point to harmonize the Liver and the Stomach here?

How to reach it

Stress and a Wiry pulse are shared. The deciding signs go upward: belching, sour regurgitation, nausea. That is the Stomach failing to send Qi down because Liver-Qi has invaded it. The point that harmonizes the Liver and the Stomach is LR 14.

Other options

  • A) LR 13 harmonizes the Liver and the Spleen. Choose it when the stools alternate.
  • C) Nourishes Liver-Blood and Liver-Yin.
  • D) Nourishes Kidney-Yin.

Remember

Upward digestive signs = Stomach = LR 14.

“LIV-14 is the main point to subdue Liver-Qi when it invades the Stomach, i.e. it harmonizes Liver and Stomach.” (FCM Ch.34)

한국어 요약: 스트레스 · Wiry 맥은 공통. 트림 · 신물 · 오심처럼 위로 올라오는 증상이 Stomach 침범을 보여 준다 → Liver와 Stomach를 조화시키는 LR 14.

Question 2 of 3 · Easy

A 37-year-old man has abdominal distension and flatulence that get worse when he is under pressure. Some days his stools are dry and in small pieces, other days they are loose. He feels tired. Tongue: light red. Pulse: Wiry on the left, Weak on the right. What is the most likely pattern?

How to reach it

Constipation and loose stools in turn, with a Wiry pulse, is FCM’s minimum for Liver invading the Spleen. Wiry on the left (Liver) with Weak on the right (Spleen) shows both sides. A light red tongue fits a weak Spleen that lets itself be invaded.

Other options

  • A) Would lead with belching, sour regurgitation and nausea.
  • C) Would give stabbing, fixed pain and a blue-purple tongue.
  • D) Would give heaviness, a greasy yellow coating and a Slippery pulse.

Remember

Alternating stools + Wiry pulse = Liver invading the Spleen. Point: LR 13.

“Alternation of constipation and loose stools and a Wiry pulse would be enough to diagnose rebellious Liver-Qi invading the Spleen” (FCM Ch.34)

한국어 요약: 변비와 설사가 번갈아 + Wiry 맥이면 Liver가 Spleen을 침범한 것. 왼쪽 Wiry(Liver) · 오른쪽 Weak(Spleen)가 양쪽을 다 보여 준다. 혈은 LR 13.

Question 3 of 3 · Easy

For the patient in Question 2, which needling method fits?

How to reach it

The pattern has two sides: the Liver overacts (Full) and the Spleen is weak (Empty). The method follows each side: reduce for the Liver, reinforce for the Spleen.

Other options

  • B) Ignores the weak Spleen.
  • C) The wrong way round.
  • D) Ignores the overacting Liver.

Remember

Combined Liver pattern: reduce the Liver side, reinforce the organ it attacks.

“Method: reducing for points to harmonize the Liver, reinforcing for points to tonify the Spleen.” (FCM Ch.34)

한국어 요약: Liver는 실(사법), Spleen은 허(보법). 복합 패턴은 실한 쪽 사 + 허한 쪽 보.

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