A quiet but important point on the inner thigh, Yinlian (LR-11) belongs to the Liver Meridian and is best known for its work in the lower body — regulating the groin, genitals and inner thigh, moving Qi and Blood (Xue) where they have become stuck, and helping the body conceive when fertility is troubled.
Contraindications
Take care in the area of the femoral vessels — the needle should not be inserted near the femoral artery. Keep to the recommended depth and use clean technique.
Name & story
The name 阴廉 Yinlian carries two ideas: 阴 Yin means the inner, hidden, or Yin side of the body — and indeed this point sits on the soft inner thigh, sheltered and private. 廉 Lian means a ridge, a border, or a corner. Together the name points quite simply to where the point lives: at the inner edge, the border of the Yin side of the leg. It is a modest, descriptive name, but it tells you exactly where to look and reminds you that the point works in that hidden, intimate territory of the lower body.
Point family & character
Yinlian (LR-11) belongs to the Liver Meridian (LR). It does not carry a special classical category such as He-Sea or Xi Cleft, but it is a local point of considerable importance for the groin and inner thigh region, and it is particularly valued in gynaecology and for disorders of the lower Jiao.
Five-element dynamics
The Liver belongs to the Wood element, and its nature is to keep Qi and Blood (Xue) moving freely through the body. When the Liver's spreading and coursing function is disrupted, Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis settle in the channels — and in the inner thigh and groin, this shows up as pain, contraction, difficulty moving the leg, or reproductive problems. Yinlian (LR-11), sitting right where the Liver Meridian travels through that territory, helps to unblock what has become stuck, warm what has grown cold, and restore the free movement that Wood needs to thrive.
Location
Yinlian (LR-11) is found on the inner thigh, 2 Cun below the upper edge of the pubic symphysis, and 2 Cun lateral to the midline — in other words, just below the groin crease, at the top of the inner thigh where the adductor muscles begin. It lies on the Liver Meridian (LR) as it travels up the inner leg.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies over the adductor longus and adductor brevis muscles on the medial aspect of the thigh. The great adductor vessels and the femoral vessels run in this region.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly (straight in).
Safe depth
0.5–1 Cun.
The golden tip
If you experience tightness or aching in the inner thigh, you can gently massage the area 2 Cun below the groin crease, along the inner edge of the thigh. Use firm but comfortable circular pressure for 1–2 minutes. Warmth is welcome here — a warm compress or a heat pack on the inner thigh can help ease tension and encourage the free flow of Qi. As always, professional acupuncture treatment is recommended for any reproductive or chronic concerns.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.