ACUPUNCTURE
Di Ji: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Di Ji (Diji)
Location
On the medial side of the lower leg, 3 cun inferior to SP-9 Yinlingquan, in a depression just posterior to the medial crest of the tibia. Note: this point is most easily located one handbreadth inferior to SP-9 Yinlingquan, or at the junction of the upper third and lower two thirds of the line drawn between the popliteal crease and the prominence of the medial malleolus.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 1.5 to 2.5 cun, causing distention and soreness, possibly extending throughout the lower leg.
- Perpendicular or oblique insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
Command Functions
- Xi-cleft, accumulating, point of the Spleen channel
- Gueki, secondary source, point
Actions
- Removes obstructions from the channel
- Regulates menstruation
- Invigorates the Blood
- Regulates Qi and Blood
- Harmonizes the Blood
- Harmonizes the Spleen
- Resolves Dampness
- Moderates acute conditions
- Regulates the uterus
- Stops pain
- Promotes spermatogenesis
Indications
- Amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis
- Dysmenorrhea
- Irregular menstruation
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Edema
- Abdominal and flank distention
- Lower back pain
- Difficult urination
- Leukorrhea
- Diarrhea
- Diarrhea with thin stools
- Dysuria
- All articular troubles
- Lumbago where there is visible sticking in the joints
- Ascites
- Hard abdomen
- Insufficient virility
- Bad Blood in the abdomens of women
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Zheng Jia, abdominal masses in women
- Infertility
- Spermatorrhea
- Urinary incontinence
- Chills
- Stiffness and pain of the lower back and knees
- Nocturnal emissions
- Colic
- Hemorrhoids
- Scanty menses
- Restrictions of movement
- Anorexia
- Dysentery
- Scanty urine
- Kidney pain preventing lying on the front or back
- Lumbar pain with a sensation of Heat in the upper body and inability to turn the head
- Abdominal pain
- Jing insufficiency
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| KI-13 Qixue, SP-6 Sanyinjiao or SP-10 Xuehai | Irregular menstruation |
| LI-4 Hegu | Menstrual pain |
| ST-27 Daju, LIV-6 Zhongdu | Cold-Damp Shan disorder |
| SP-9 Yinlingquan, REN-9 Shuifen, KI-21 Youmen, UB-27 Xiaochangshu | No pleasure in eating |
Notes
This point is frequently used in acute cases of dysmenorrhea to stop pain. If other Spleen points are not working well, try this point. It shakes up Earth. This point has a specific and important action on resolving Blood Stasis in the uterus and lower abdomen.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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