ACUPUNCTURE
Ru Gen: TCM Acupoint Guide
RUGEN
Name
Ru Gen (Rugen)
Location
On the chest, directly below the nipple, on the lower border of the breast in the fifth intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline. In females, the nipple is unlikely to lie 4 cun lateral to the midline and should not be used as a reference point.
Needling
- Transverse insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Transverse-oblique insertion laterally or medially, 0.5 to 1 cun, or transverse insertion superiorly or inferiorly along the channel.
- Oblique insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Deep or perpendicular insertion carries a substantial risk of puncturing the lung.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Actions
- Benefits the breasts
- Reduces swelling
- Diffuses lung qi
- Regulates stomach qi
- Expands and relaxes the chest
- Alleviates cough and wheezing
- Expedites and facilitates lactation
- Dispels stagnation
Indications
- Chest and hypochondriac fullness and pain
- Cough
- Asthma
- Mastitis
- Insufficient lactation
- Dyspnea
- Oppression of the diaphragm
- Sudden turmoil disorder with cramps
- Swelling and pain of the arm
- Stifling sensation in the chest
- Bronchitis
- Breast abscess
- Breast pain
- Difficult labor
- Oppression and pain below the chest
- Esophageal constriction with difficult ingestion
- Inversion counterflow of the four limbs
Notes
This point is mostly used as a local point for breast problems, especially in women.
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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