ACUPUNCTURE
Guan Men: TCM Acupoint Guide
GUANMEN
Name
Guan Men (Guanmen)
Location
On the abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the midline and 3 cun superior to the umbilicus, level with REN-11 Jianli.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 1 to 2 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.8 to 1 cun.
- Perpendicular insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
- Caution: in thin patients, deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity.
Actions
- Regulates qi
- Alleviates pain
- Regulates the intestines
- Benefits urination
Indications
- Abdominal distention and fullness
- Anorexia
- Borborygmus
- Diarrhea
- Edema
- Dysenteric disorder
- Phlegm malaria with cold shivering
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal qi accumulation
- Sensation of qi moving in the abdomen
- Acute periumbilical pain
- Constipation
- Enuresis
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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