Large Intestine MeridianLI19

Kouheliao 口禾髎

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

On the upper lip, directly below the outer edge of the nostril, level with the middle of the philtrum.

Also called Heliao (禾髎)

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Kouheliao — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Kouheliao — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right — **Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right**
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.

Kouheliao — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Maxilla

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Kouheliao.

On this page

Where is Kouheliao?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
Alternative location
FAQ

1Where is Kouheliao?

On the upper lip, directly below the outer edge of the nostril, level with the middle of the philtrum.

It is 0.5 cun beside GV26 (WHO main location).

Beneath the point

Maxilla

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: at the middle of the 10.7 mm philtrum (5.4 mm below the base of the nose), 11 mm from the midline (the outer edge of the nostril was estimated as 7 mm inside Yingxiang). The WHO alternative location (upper third of the philtrum) is about 1.8 mm higher.

2How do I find it on my body?

Picture a vertical line dropping from the outer edge of the nostril.
Picture a horizontal line at the halfway height of the philtrum (from the base of the nose to the red border of the upper lip).
Press where the two lines cross.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Facial skin is thin, so press lightly with a fingertip only.
Avoid broken, bruised or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

4How has it been used traditionally?

Traditionally pressed for the nose area.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

5Alternative location

On the same vertical line, one third of the way down the philtrum from the base of the nose (slightly higher than the main location). WHO 2008 Remarks.

Chinese standard (2021) differs · China's 2021 standard places it one third of the way down the philtrum (the WHO alternative location).

?FAQ

Where exactly is Kouheliao?

On the upper lip, directly below the outer edge of the nostril, level with the middle of the philtrum. It is 0.5 cun beside GV26 (WHO main location).

How do I find Kouheliao?

Picture a vertical line dropping from the outer edge of the nostril. Picture a horizontal line at the halfway height of the philtrum (from the base of the nose to the red border of the upper lip). Press where the two lines cross.

What should I watch out for?

Facial skin is thin, so press lightly with a fingertip only. Avoid broken, bruised or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousFutu · LI18 Next →Yingxiang · LI20

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008) — main and alternative locations
Standard difference: China GB/T 12346-2021
Korean anatomical terms: KMCRIC standard acupoint database · KMLE medical dictionary
Classification cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)

Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.