ACUPUNCTURE
Feng Men: TCM Acupoint Guide
FENGMEN
Name
Feng Men (Fengmen)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the DU channel, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra. Note: locate at the visible highest point of the paraspinal muscles.
Needling
- Straight insertion slanted slightly toward the spine, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness, sometimes extending between the ribs.
- Caution: perpendicular insertion, or oblique insertion away from the spine, carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax.
- Transverse insertion pointed downward along the muscle, 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
- Caution: care should be taken not to insert the needle too deeply, to avoid puncturing the Lung.
- Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Transverse-oblique insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Puncture obliquely, 0.5 to 0.7 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Meeting point of the DU channel with the Bladder channel
Actions
- Opens the Lungs
- Disseminates and descends Lung Qi
- Dispels Wind
- Relaxes the Exterior
- Expels and prevents Exterior Wind
- Releases the Exterior
- Stimulates the Lungs' dispersing function
- Regulates Qi
- Regulates the Ying and the Wei
- Benefits the nose
Indications
- Common cold
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Neck rigidity
- Backache
- Cough with chest and back pain
- Hemoptysis
- Dyspnea
- Heat in the chest
- Wind-taxation coughing
- Wind-exhaustion vomiting
- Vomiting
- Copious nasal discharge
- Nasal congestion
- Rhinitis
- Epistaxis
- Carbuncles of the back
- Restless sleep
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Chills
- Aversion to Cold
- Attack by Wind with fever
- Cold shivering
- Injury by Cold with rigidity of the head and neck
- Flaccidity of the interstices with frequent coughing and clear, watery nasal discharge
- Flaccidity of the interstices with susceptibility to catching Wind-Cold
- Desire to keep the eyes closed
- Wind dizziness
- Visual dizziness
- Lumbar pain
- Stiff neck
- Urticaria
- Shoulder pain
- Bronchitis
- Pleurisy
- Belching
- Whooping cough
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| DU-24 Shenting, UB-2 Zanzhu, LI-20 Yingxiang, LI-4 Hegu, UB-67 Zhiyin, KI-20 Futonggu | Rhinitis with clear nasal discharge |
| UB-5 Wuchu | Constant sneezing |
| GB-18 Chengling, GB-20 Fengchi, UB-45 Yixi, SI-3 Houxi | Epistaxis with stifled breathing |
| GB-21 Jianjing, SJ-3 Zhongzhu, SJ-6 Zhigou, SI-3 Houxi, SI-4 Wangu, UB-40 Weizhong | Pain of the shoulder and back |
| LI-4 Hegu, LIV-2 Xingjian, GB-39 Xuanzhong | Injury by Cold with fever that clears and then recurs |
| DU-14 Dazhui, LI-4 Hegu | Influenza |
| LI-11 Quchi, LU-7 Lieque, SP-10 Xuehai | Urticaria |
| UB-13 Feishu, LU-6 Kongzui | Pleurisy |
Notes
This is the point to use at the very beginning stages of a Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat attack.
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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