ACUPUNCTURE
Shang Wan: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Shang Wan (CV-13)
Location
On the midline of the abdomen, 5 cun above the umbilicus and 3 cun below the sternocostal angle.
Needling
- Perpendicular insertion 0.8 to 1.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly 0.5 to 1.2 cun.
- Straight insertion 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention and a heavy feeling in the upper abdomen.
Caution: in thin patients, deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity. Moxibustion is applicable.
Command functions
- Meeting point with the Stomach channel
- Meeting point with the Small Intestine channel
Actions
- Harmonizes the Stomach and regulates qi
- Descends rebellious qi and stops vomiting
- Regulates the Heart
Indications
Stomach and abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Deficiency-taxation vomiting of blood
- Difficult ingestion and stomach reflux
- Belching and hiccups due to Cold
- Abdominal pain, distention and fullness
- Abdominal masses and pain of the Spleen
- Undigested food in the stool
- Borborygmus and diarrhea
- Anorexia and excessive salivation
- Sudden turmoil disorder
- Epigastric pain and stomach ache
- Stomach spasms
- Stomach and duodenal ulcers
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- Hiatal hernia and indigestion
- Dilated stomach
Mind and spirit
- Insomnia
- Insanity and incoherent speech
- Madness and manic rushing around
- Seizures, epilepsy and wind epilepsy
- Anxiety and fear
- Palpitations and fright palpitations
- Sudden Heart pain and chest pain
- Unbearable Heart pain
- The nine types of Heart pain
- Sensation of heat and agitation in the Heart
- Heat in the body with absence of sweating, whole body hot and sweaty
- Febrile disease
Other disorders
- Morning sickness
- Vomiting and cough with sputum; much phlegm
- Bronchitis and pleurisy
- Cardiac spasms
- Hypertension
- Jaundice
- Running piglet qi
- Visual dizziness
Combinations
| UB-20 Pishu, UB-18 Ganshu, SP-1 Yinbai | Vomiting blood and spontaneous external bleeding |
| ST-19 Burong, PC-7 Daling | Vomiting, including vomiting of blood |
| REN-12 Zhongwan | The nine types of Heart pain |
| PC-7 Daling | Unbearable Heart pain |
| REN-14 Juque | Distention and fullness of the Heart and abdomen |
| HT-7 Shenmen | Manic rushing around |
| PC-6 Neiguan, SP-4 Gongsun | Cardiac spasm |
| PC-6 Neiguan, ST-36 Zusanli, LI-10 Shousanli | Acute gastritis |
Notes
This point sits at the top of the Stomach and is the best point to subdue rebellious Stomach qi. It is used mostly in Stomach Excess patterns, and it is the link between the upper and middle jiaos. This point also stimulates the thyroid.
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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