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Introduction: Yuji (LU10), belonging to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, is primarily used to treat conditions such as cough, hemoptysis, dry throat, sore throat, loss of voice, heat in the palm, and childhood malnutrition. This article shares two new applications of the Yuji acupoint, aiming to help broaden clinical perspectives through these illustrative cases.

Case Studies of Yuji (LU10) Acupoint Applications

Xiao Xianggao

I. Cough-Induced Coccygeal Pain

Patient Zhang, male, 28 years old, laborer. Initial consultation on December 15, 1984.

The patient injured his lower back two days prior while lifting an object, resulting in inability to bend forward, extend, or rotate the torso. Pain intensified significantly with coughing, leading him to suppress coughs. Examination revealed localized pain in the coccygeal region (Editor’s note: the buttocks, the terminal end of the spine), without redness, swelling, or obvious tenderness. No other complaints were noted, and pulse and tongue findings were within normal limits.

This syndrome is classified as sprain-induced low back pain. It is due to qi stagnation in the lower back meridians, leading to poor circulation of qi and blood; "blockage causes pain." The proposed method is to regulate qi and move stagnation, thereby achieving "free flow eliminates pain."

Bilateral LU10 (Yuji) points were needled using lifting-thrusting and twirling reducing techniques. After five minutes, the patient was instructed to cough, and reported significant reduction of coccyx pain. The needles were retained for twenty minutes, with manipulation repeated every five minutes.

During needle retention, the patient was instructed to move the lower back. After needle removal, the pain was greatly reduced, allowing bending forward, extension, and rotation to both sides. The same points were needled again the following day using the same technique, completely eliminating the pain and resolving all symptoms.

Note: The treatment of "cough-induced coccyx pain" with LU10 (Yuji) point was documented as early as the Ming Dynasty in Yang Jizhou's *Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion*. However, contemporary acupuncture textbooks and other acupuncture literature no longer mention this application. The author's clinical verification has shown excellent efficacy. The key diagnostic feature is severe coccyx pain upon coughing, without local redness, swelling, or obvious tenderness. Not all types of low back pain will respond to this treatment.

In addition, instructing the patient to move the waist and strengthen functional exercises during the needle retention period is also an important aspect to improve the therapeutic effect.

II. Epistaxis

Zhang, male, 36 years old, cadre. Initial consultation on April 1, 1985.

The patient had a history of epistaxis. Recently, due to emotional distress, depression transformed into fire. Yesterday, there was sudden bleeding from the right nostril, initially like dripping, gradually becoming like a water jet. Gauze was quickly used to plug the nostril, but blood immediately flowed from the mouth. Western hemostatic drugs were used to temporarily achieve an effect.

The nostrils continue bleeding with the same severity as before, accompanied by a pale complexion, dizziness, irritability and irascibility, occasional hypochondriac pain, a red tongue with thin yellow coating, and a wiry, thin, and rapid pulse.

The syndrome pertains to liver fire punishing the lung. The treatment should aim to subdue the liver, drain the lung, clear heat, and stop nosebleeds. The main acupoint selected for needling was LU 10 (Yuji), supplemented by LR 2 (Xingjian), using the reducing method of lifting, thrusting, and rotating, retaining the needles for twenty minutes and manipulating them every five minutes.

After needle withdrawal, the nosebleed gradually decreased and stopped by midnight. The same points were needled again the next day using the same technique, and all symptoms were completely resolved.

Note: Nosebleeds have various causes, which may be due to wind-heat accumulating in the lung, stagnated fire in the stomach, or liver fire scorching the lung. Any of these can lead to heat damaging the lung collaterals, causing blood to deviate from its normal pathway, ascend and overflow into the nasal orifice, resulting in epistaxis.

Although the causes differ, all can be treated primarily using the LU10 acupuncture point. For lung heat, combine it with LU5; for stomach fire, add ST44; for liver fire, pair it with LR2. By identifying the cause, differentiating the syndrome, selecting appropriate supplementary points, and applying corresponding techniques, effectiveness can be achieved.