ACUPUNCTURE
Ren Zhong: TCM Acupoint Guide
RENZHONG
Name
Ren Zhong (Renzhong)
Location
On the philtrum, at the junction of the upper third and middle third of the philtrum, above the upper lip on the midline.
Needling
- For excessive salivation, first insert the needle upward to the septum of the nose, then withdraw slightly, keeping the needle under the skin and directing it first toward one nostril and then the other. Sensation: local distention and pain.
- Transverse insertion directed upward, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: local pain and possibly distention.
- Puncture obliquely upward, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
Command Functions
- Intersecting point of the Stomach and Large Intestine channels with the DU channel
- Sun Si-miao Ghost point
Actions
- Revives consciousness
- Calms the Shen
- Clears the brain
- Clears the senses
- Clears Heat
- Benefits the face and nose
- Dispels Wind and Wind-Phlegm
- Restores collapsed Yang
- Regulates the DU channel
- Strengthens the back
- Benefits the lumbar spine
- Treats acute lumbar spasm
- Relaxes the sinews
- Alleviates pain
- Clears the nose
- Eliminates Internal Wind
Indications
- Closed-type Windstroke
- Collapsing syndrome
- Seizures
- Shock
- Heatstroke
- Hysteria with fainting
- Facial swelling due to Wind
- Excessive thirst
- Eye muscle twitches and cramps
- Lockjaw
- Coma
- Psychosis
- Lip tremor
- Spasms in the region of the mouth
- Jaundice
- Mouth and eyes awry
- Edema
- Mental disorders
- Infantile convulsions
- Spasms and paralysis of the buccal and extraocular muscles
- Patient laughs or cries
- Syncope
- Emergency care
- Cerebral hemorrhage
- Stiffness and pain of the vertebral column after exercise
- Rigor of the back muscles
- Thirst
- Patient believes himself to be hit by blows from ghosts
- Verbal delirium
- Intermittent suffocation
- Sudden loss of consciousness
- Headache with chills and fever
- Mania-depression
- Ceaseless nosebleed
- Inability to distinguish fragrant from foul
- Toothache
- Deviated mouth due to Windstroke
- Depression with uncontrolled weeping
- Convulsions
- Muscular tetany
- All acute spinal pain or muscle spasms
- Acute lower back pain and stiffness
- All nasal disorders
- Nasal obstruction
- Rhinitis
- Epistaxis
- Motion sickness
- Halitosis
- Apoplectic locked jaw
- Insanity
- Emaciation and thirst even after drinking
- Twisting pain in the vicinity of the Heart and abdomen
- Facial paralysis
- Facial swelling without edema with lip tremor
- Madness
- Epilepsy with madness during crisis
- Unconsciousness
- Apoplexy
- Heat exhaustion
- Spasms of the lumbar muscles
- Deviation of the spine
- Diabetes
- Thirst with dyspnea
- Aphasia
- Torpor due to fright
- Swelling of the lips
- Vision problems
- Acute and chronic childhood fright Wind
- Hypertension
- Inappropriate laughter
- Clear nasal discharge with difficulty breathing
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| PC-6 Neiguan, KI-1 Yongquan, ST-36 Zusanli | Septic shock |
| REN-1 Huiyin, PC-9 Zhongchong | Revival from drowning |
| LI-4 Hegu joined to PC-8 Laogong | Hysteria |
| UB-40 Weizhong | Lower back sprain, pain in the lumbar spine |
| M-UE-1 Shixuan, KI-1 Yongquan, UB-40 Weizhong | Heat exhaustion |
| PC-9 Zhongchong, LI-4 Hegu; if ineffective DU-15 Yamen, LIV-1 Dadun | Loss of consciousness from Windstroke |
| DU-21 Qianding | Deficient floating facial edema |
| ST-36 Zusanli | Dizziness following needle shock |
| LI-4 Hegu, ST-44 Neiting, DU-20 Baihui, REN-3 Zhongji, REN-6 Qihai | Loss of consciousness from Summerheat stroke |
| DU-20 Baihui | Tendency to excessive crying |
| LU-7 Lieque, LI-5 Yangxi, PC-7 Daling | Frequent laughter |
| DU-28 Yinjiao | Madness |
| PC-5 Jianshi | Epilepsy |
| SJ-16 Tianyou | Nasal discharge with inability to distinguish fragrant from foul |
| ST-6 Jiache, ST-4 Dicang, REN-24 Chengjiang, GB-2 Tinghui, LI-4 Hegu | Deviation of the mouth and eye |
| ST-6 Jiache, DU-20 Baihui, REN-24 Chengjiang, LI-4 Hegu | Lockjaw following Windstroke |
| LU-5 Chize, UB-40 Weizhong, then UB-60 Kunlun, UB-65 Shugu, SJ-6 Zhigou, GB-34 Yanglingquan | Pain of the lumbar region and lateral costal region due to sprain |
Notes
This point is used to promote resuscitation when a person is unconscious. It is the first of the thirteen Ghost Points listed by Sun Si-miao for the treatment of psychosis and epilepsy. Ren means man, who lies between Heaven and Earth, and this point is considered to establish the connection between the two.
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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