Guan Yuan: TCM Acupoint Guide

Name

Guan Yuan (CV-4)

Location

On the midline of the lower abdomen, 3 cun inferior to the umbilicus and 2 cun superior to the pubic symphysis.

Needling

• Puncture perpendicularly 0.8 to 1.2 cun.
• Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun, or oblique insertion directed inferiorly 1 to 1.5 cun.
• Slanted insertion, pointed downward, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness, sometimes extending to the genitals.

Caution: deep insertion may penetrate a full Bladder, which should therefore be emptied before treatment. Moxibustion is applicable.

Command functions

• Front-Mu point of the Small Intestine
• Intersecting point of the Liver, Spleen and Kidney channels on the REN channel

Actions

• Tonifies and nourishes the Kidneys, tonifies yuan qi and benefits jing
• Tonifies qi and blood, nourishes blood and yin, enriches yin
• Warms and fortifies the Spleen, warms Cold and warms the yang
• Stabilizes Kidney qi and raises middle qi
• Regulates the lower jiao and benefits the Bladder
• Regulates the Small Intestines and the water pathways
• Resolves Dampness and Damp-Heat, especially of the lower jiao
• Dries Dampness and Cold-Dampness
• Regulates menstruation and the uterus, and assists conception
• Drains pathogenic influences from the Heart and stabilizes the mind
• Roots the ethereal soul and stimulates the testes
• Restores collapsed yang or yin

Indications

Kidney and lower jiao deficiency

• Kidney deficiency and kidney taxation
• Kidney deficiency dyspnea and asthma due to Kidney deficiency
• Chronic consumptive disorders and deficiency consumption with cough
• Wasting and thirsting disorder, with emaciation despite much eating
• Lower jiao wasting and thirsting syndrome with frequent urination
• Weakness and lack of strength, and emaciation with lassitude
• Emaciation with constant thirst and thirst
• Weakness of the four limbs
• Weakness of the Spleen qi, with loose stool and undigested food in the stools
• Weakness of the lumbar region and legs
• Lumbar pain in the middle aged and elderly
• Pain of the bones and leg joints in the middle aged and elderly
• Tidal fever, tidal fever with hemoptysis and taxation heat
• Dizziness and vertigo due to qi and blood deficiency
• Neurasthenia, neurasthenic insomnia and forgetfulness

Urogenital and kidney disorders

• Chronic nephritis and nephritis
• Pyelonephritis and urinary tract infection
• Prostatitis
• Dysuria, difficulty urinating and urinary incontinence
• Retention of urine, and retention of urine due to fetal pressure
• Frequent urination and enuresis in the elderly
• Nocturnal emission, spermatorrhea and male sterility
• Impotence and frigidity
• Hematuria and chyluria
• Urolithiasis (stone lin) and the five types of painful urinary dysfunction (lin)
• Syrupy or qi-type painful urinary dysfunction
• Burning pain on urination
• Dark urine
• Edema that leads to pain in the lateral costal region
• Heaviness of the body like a mountain

Gynecology and men's health

• Irregular, prolonged and yin-deficient menstrual disorders
• Cold menstrual disorders
• Dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea
• Abnormal uterine bleeding and functional uterine bleeding
• Red and white leukorrhea
• Lochioschesis and persistent flow of lochia
• Postpartum hemorrhage and postpartum abdominal pain
• Bleeding during pregnancy
• Restless fetus disorder due to deficiency
• Infertility, and infertility with cold sensations in the vagina
• Uterine prolapse and uterine fibroids
• Inflamed testicles
• Prolapse of the rectum and stomach
• Running piglet qi in women, and running piglet qi rising to the Heart

Abdomen and digestion

• Lower abdominal pain and lower abdominal fullness
• Abdominal distention and pain
• Very swollen abdomen
• Cold accumulation with deficiency
• Cold qi entering the lower abdomen, giving rise to pain
• Twisting pain below the navel that gradually radiates to the genitals
• Intense heat in the hypogastrium, with heat sensation and pain there
• Diarrhea with tenesmus, dysenteric disorders and ceaseless diarrhea
• Fecal incontinence and incontinence of stool in the elderly
• Difficulty defecating
• Indigestion and belching
• White turbidity
• Sudden turmoil disorder

Mind, spirit and Wind

• Fear and fright
• A vague feeling of fear at night
• Fear leading to deficiency consumption
• Lethargy and generalized weakness
• Abandoned-type windstroke and abandoned-type coma
• Seizures
• Headache and wind dizziness
• Gradual darkening of the face
• Deep-rooted bone ulcers due to fear

Other

• Hypertension
• Collapsing syndrome with cold extremities, and shock
• Dyspnea with inability to lie down
• Pulmonary tuberculosis with chills and shortness of breath
• Roundworms in the intestinal tract
• Pelvioperitonitis
• Tremor of the hands
• Aversion to Cold in the back
• Withered ears

Combinations

Notes

This point is a gateway to source (yuan) qi, and an extremely important point. It is one of the most powerful points to tonify qi and blood and strengthen the body and mind.