ACUPUNCTURE
Jiu Wei: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Jiu Wei (Jiuwei)
Location
On the anterior midline, 7 cun above the umbilicus and 1 cun below the sternal costal angle. Note: many sources locate this point below the tip of the xiphoid process. The xiphoid process varies considerably in length, however, and this point may lie on the xiphoid process itself. Locate this point in the supine position with the arms uplifted.
Needling
- Oblique insertion directed inferiorly, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Slanted insertion, pointed slightly downward, 1 cun.
- Caution: deep insertion, especially in thin patients, may damage the left lobe of the Liver or the Heart if either is enlarged. Oblique superior insertion is contraindicated.
- Puncture obliquely downwards, 0.4 to 0.6 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Luo-Connecting point
- Yuan-source point of the five Yin organs
Actions
- Regulates the Heart
- Calms the Shen
- Descends Lung Qi
- Unbinds the chest
- Benefits Yuan Qi
Indications
- Angina pectoris
- Seizures
- Hiccups
- Mental illness
- Asthma
- Lassitude
- Mental exhaustion
- Vomiting
- Acid regurgitation
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Diaphragmatic spasms
- Stomach ache
- Abdominal migraine
- Oppressive sensation of the Heart
- Excessive sighing
- Pain radiating from the Heart to the back
- Hemoptysis
- Diminished Qi
- Rattling sound in the throat
- Throat Bi
- Swelling of the throat
- Excessive sexual activity leading to exhaustion in youths
- Severe anxiety
- Worry
- Obsessions
- Intermittent suffocation
- Delirious speech
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Loss of virility
- Pain in the cardiac region and chest
- Nausea
- Mental disorders
- Epilepsy
- Hysteria
- Mania
- Pericarditis
- Palpitations
- Fear
- Fright
- The five types of epilepsy
- Mad walking
- Mad singing
- Aversion to the sound of people talking
- Fright palpitations
- Pain of the skin of the abdomen
- Itching of the skin of the abdomen
- Wheezing
- Dyspnea
- Fullness of the chest
- Difficult ingestion
- Stomach reflux
- Prolapse of the rectum
- Febrile disease
- One-sided headache extending to the outer canthus
- Pain in the outer canthus
- Migraine
- Panic
- Speech problems
- Drug withdrawal
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| SI-3 Houxi, HT-7 Shenmen | The five types of epilepsy |
| UB-18 Ganshu, ST-12 Quepen, UB-15 Xinshu, REN-14 Juque | Coughing and spitting blood |
| DU-20 Baihui | Prolapse of the rectum (moxa both points for children), dysenteric disorder |
| GB-6 Xuanli | Febrile disease with one-sided headache |
Contraindications
According to several classical texts, moxibustion is forbidden on this point. Oblique superior insertion is contraindicated.
Notes
A very important and powerful point to calm the Mind. This point stimulates the pituitary gland, and can be used to stop smoking.
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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