Liver 1 Dadun – Great Clarity

Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott

February 22, 2020

Liver 1, Dadun, is on your big toe by the nail. It’s the first point on the Liver acupuncture channel. Translating its name into English shows just how meanings have changed over the millennia.

Liver 1’s Name – Dadun

Dadun means, according to various translations:

Big Heap, or Big Mound
Also, Great Esteem and
Great Honesty

Because of what it does, I think it could also be Great Clarity.

Anyway, it’s definitely a Big or Great Something!

Description

Jing-Well point
Wood point
Entry point
Horary point for the Liver: 1am – 3am

Location

Just proximal to the lateral proximal corner of the large toenail.

Needling Dadun

Hold the toe firmly and needle perpendicularly to the skin at the point. Depth 0.1 to 0.2 cun.

Needle sensation

The sensation is very localised: sore.

Moxa on Liver 1

Moxibustion:

Up to three cones.

Be careful with old people or people whose sensations are dulled. If using a moxa-stick over Liver 1, you can easily burn somebody before they start to report pain.

Moxa: very effective at Liver 1 — Moxa Cone in Situ

However, moxa at Liver 1 can be very effective when a problem is due to a build up of Qi in the channel, with deficiency as a background. The moxa seems to pull energy down and unravel it, even in chronic conditions.

Actions of Liver 1

Although not listed as such, this behaves like a point of the Chong mo vessel in its ability to regulate menses, cool Blood Heat and control excessive menstrual bleeding (which is often due to Heat). However, it often also helps where excessive bleeding is due to deficiency.
It benefits the lower jiao, the lower abdomen inferior to the umbilicus: for instance it can open up congealed Liver Qi manifesting as constipation; helps with abdominal distension
Regulates Liver Qi

Very good for pain or inflammation either along the Liver channel or caused by Liver syndromes, eg headaches
Used for many kinds of genito-urinary problems, including deficiency, though more commonly for Heat and Damp-Heat, such as pain, swelling, itch, prolapse and inflammation. Also used for bed-wetting, frequent urination
Revive consciousness: sometimes used to regulate when a patent sleeps too much.
Moxa for pain from a hernia
Nosebleed from ascending Liver Yang

Comments on Liver 1

A pity Liver 1 Dadun is painful because it is so useful, and Liver Heat, Damp-Heat, Qi stagnation and Yang rising are so common.

But don’t forget you can also massage it. If Dadun is needed it is frequently quite sensitive so even massage can be sore. But it is effective. And moxa here can be great for many conditions, and is usually well-tolerated in small doses.

To me, it seems to clear out the Liver channel, hence my preferred name for it, Great Clarity. But don’t bother, Chinese scholars, to write to me about it. That’s just the name that helps me remember what it does. If my name for it confuses you, just call it Dadun: ‘Big Heap’!

Click here to find out about the Liver’s functions in Chinese medicine

Click to find out about the liver organ in WESTERN medicine

For points along the Liver channel, click below:

Liver-1	Dadun	Great Clarity
Liver-2	Xingjian	Walk Between
Liver-3	Taichong	Great Pouring
Liver-4	Zhongfeng	Middle Seal
Liver-5	Ligou	Woodworm Groove
Liver-6	Zhongdu	Central Capital
Liver-7	Xiguan	Knee Joint
Liver-8	Ququan	Spring at the Bend
Liver-9	YinBao	Yin Wrapping
Liver-10	Zuwuli	Leg Five Miles
Liver-11	Yinlian	Yin Angle
Liver-12	Jimai	Urgent Pulse
Liver-13	Zhangmen	System Gate
Liver-14	Qimen	Cycle Gate