ACUPUNCTURE
Shui Dao: TCM Acupoint Guide
SHUIDAO
Name
Shui Dao (Shuidao)
Location
On the lower abdomen, 3 cun below the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral to REN-4 Guanyuan. Note: the 2 cun line is halfway between the midline and the palpable border of the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness, possibly extending to the lower side of the abdomen on which the point is needled.
- Caution: deep insertion may penetrate the peritoneal cavity in thin patients, or may penetrate a full bladder. Advise the patient to evacuate prior to treatment.
- Perpendicular insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 0.7 to 1.2 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Actions
- Regulates the Lower Jiao
- Dispels Stagnation
- Benefits the Bladder
- Benefits the uterus
- Cools Damp-Heat
- Eliminates Damp-Heat from the Lower Jiao
- Benefits urination
- Opens the water passages
- Benefits Difficult Urination Syndrome
- Stops pain
Indications
- Retention of urine
- Retention of feces
- Edema
- Cold in the Bladder
- Distention and fullness of the lower abdomen
- Distention and pain of the lower abdomen which radiates to the vagina
- Shan disorder
- Pain of the lumbar vertebrae
- Pain of the shoulder and back
- Urinary obstruction
- Difficulty urinating
- Inability to urinate
- Lack of urine
- Yin in the uterus causing infertility
- Nephritis
- Cystitis
- Constipation
- Dysmenorrhea
- Clots in the uterus
- Leukorrhea
- Sterility
- Hypogastric pain in women extending to the genitals
- Infertility
- Cold in the uterus that radiates down the thigh to the knee
- Uterine masses
- Retention of dead fetus
- Retention of the placenta
- Lumbar pain accompanying menstruation
- Heat binding the San Jiao
- Ascites
- Hernia
- Orchitis
- Inflammation of the scrotum
- Pain leading to the genitals
- Rectal prolapse
- Enteritis
- Contracture in the shoulder and renal region of the back
- Painful urinary dysfunction
- Kidney stones lodged in the upper and lower tract
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| DU-8 Jinsuo | Stiffness of the spine |
| SJ-16 Tianyou, ST-12 Quepen, DU-11 Shendao, UB-11 Dazhu, REN-22 Tiantu, LI-16 Jugu | Pain of the shoulder and back |
| REN-9 Shuifen, SP-9 Yinlingquan, ST-36 Zusanli | Ascites |
| UB-23 Shenshu, UB-28 Pangguangshu, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Nephritis |
Notes
Used when Excess pathogenic factors obstruct the qi transformation function of the Bladder and Cold congeals in the uterus. Specifically indicated for uterine masses.
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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