The LI-11 Pressure Point
The Hay-Band applies pressure to a single point on the arm, known as Large Intestine 11, or LI-11.
In Chinese it is called Quchi, which translates roughly as "pool at the bend".
Where Is It Located On The Body?
LI-11 sits on the outer side of the arm at the elbow. Bend your elbow and a crease forms across the inside; the point lies at the outer end of that crease, roughly where it meets the bone.
You can find it with your fingers before you put the band on. Once you know where it is, positioning the stud takes a few seconds.
What Tradition Says…
LI-11 is one of the better-known points in Chinese medicine and has been used for a very long time.
It sits on the Large Intestine meridian, one of the channels along which chi is said to flow.
In traditional Chinese medicine, points on this meridian are associated with the head and the face, and stimulating LI-11 is held to draw excess or negative energy away from the head. That is the reasoning behind its use for conditions affecting the nose, throat and eyes.
This is a description of what the tradition holds rather than a medical explanation. Stimulating this point has not been clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of hay fever or allergic rhinitis.
How The Hay-Band Uses It
The band was designed around this one point.
The stud on the inside is positioned to sit directly over LI-11, and the elasticity of the band holds it there under steady, light pressure.
Fit is the only thing that matters in use. The band needs to be snug enough that the stud stays in place as you move, without being tight. Either arm can be used.