ACUPUNCTURE
Zhong Ji: TCM Acupoint Guide
ZHONGJI
Name
Zhong Ji (Zhongji)
Location
On the midline of the lower abdomen, 4 cun inferior to the umbilicus and 1 cun superior to the pubic symphysis.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness possibly extending into the genital region.
- Caution: deep insertion will penetrate a full bladder, which should therefore be emptied before treatment.
- Perpendicular insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Front-Mu point of the Bladder
- Meeting point of the REN channel with the Spleen, Liver, Small Intestine, Bladder, Gall Bladder, San Jiao and Kidney channels
Actions
- Benefits the Bladder
- Regulates Qi transformation
- Drains Damp-Heat from the Bladder, uterus and genitals
- Drains Dampness
- Treats leukorrhea
- Benefits the uterus
- Regulates menstruation
- Dispels Stagnation
- Benefits the Lower Jiao
- Fortifies the Kidneys
- Promotes urination
- Assists the transforming function of Qi
Indications
- Severe pain of the lower abdomen
- Retention of urine during pregnancy
- Frequent urination
- Dark urine
- Scanty urination
- Copious urination
- Urethral pain
- The five types of painful urinary dysfunction
- Edema
- Masses below the umbilicus
- Severe twisting pain below the umbilicus
- The seven kinds of Shan disorder
- Cold sensations of the lower abdomen
- Heat sensations of the abdomen
- Sudden severe pain of the lower abdomen and back
- Accumulation of Cold qi rising to invade the Heart
- Running piglet Qi rising to the Heart causing inability to breathe
- Loss of consciousness
- Swelling of the external genital region
- Anorexia
- Skinniness
- Enuresis
- Vaginal discharge
- Leukorrhea
- Red and white vaginal discharge
- Hernia
- Vaginitis
- Urethritis
- Sciatica
- Ascites
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract infection
- Lassitude
- Difficult menstruation
- Impotence
- Body generally weak and fatigued
- Menstrual disorders
- Uterine bleeding
- Urinary disorders in women
- Gonorrhea
- Anuria
- Uterine spasms
- Paralysis of the urethral sphincter
- Placenta does not descend
- Displacement of the womb
- Pruritus vulvae
- Lower abdominal pain
- Yang Deficiency
- Debauchery
- Yin sweat, nocturnal and not salty
- Rectal prolapse
- Heat and eating up of the genital region
- Genital itching with Heat sensation
- Genital pain
- Red and white leukorrhea
- Seminal emission
- Seminal emission with dreams
- Pain and swelling of the cervix
- Pain and swelling of the vulva
- Infertility
- Irregular menstruation
- Amenorrhea
- Menorrhagia
- Uterine prolapse
- Abdominal masses
- Retention of the placenta
- Retention of the lochia
- Retention of the fetus
- Persistent flow of the lochia
- Black Blood not evacuated after childbirth
- Lumbar pain
- Yang qi Deficiency
- Yuan qi Deficiency
- Uterine deviation causing sterility
- Urinary urgency
- Dysuria
- Hunger with inability to eat
- Heat in the lower abdomen
- Sterility
- Alternating chills and fever
- Orchitis
- Morbid leukorrhea
- Nephritis
- Pelviperitonitis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Uterine fibroids
- Collapsing syndrome
- Prostatitis
- Urinary tract stones
- Vaginal prolapse
- Fainting
- Poor genital Blood circulation in women causing pains in the external genitals with dysuria and passing clots
- Urinary retention with bleeding
- Premature ejaculation
- Sterility in men due to lack of sperm
- Lack of virility
- Endometritis
- Salpingitis
- Icy cold sensation in the lower abdomen in women
- Cadaveric syncope
- Asthenia
- General fatigue
- Disorders due to sexual intercourse during menstruation
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| REN-2 Qugu, REN-4 Guanyuan, REN-5 Shimen, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Inability to urinate |
| LIV-5 Ligou, SP-7 Lougu, UB-36 Chengfu, UB-67 Zhiyin | Difficult urination, seminal emission |
| UB-67 Zhiyin, LIV-8 Ququan | Seminal emission |
| KI-3 Taixi, LU-10 Yuji, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Pain of the penis |
| REN-1 Huiyin, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Sudden redness, swelling and pain of the vagina |
| M-CA-18 Zigong | Infertility, uterine bleeding |
| REN-5 Shimen, M-CA-18 Zigong, UB-23 Shenshu | Ceaseless uterine bleeding |
| SP-6 Sanyinjiao, GB-26 Daimai, REN-6 Qihai, UB-23 Shenshu | Irregular menstruation |
| SP-6 Sanyinjiao, GB-41 Zulinqi | Inhibited menstruation |
| SP-5 Shangqiu | Infertility |
| SP-6 Sanyinjiao or GB-21 Jianjing, or SP-6 Sanyinjiao with GB-21 Jianjing | Retention of the placenta |
| ST-25 Tianshu, REN-12 Zhongwan | Ceaseless diarrhea |
| REN-2 Qugu, KI-5 Shuiquan, REN-9 Shuifen, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, GB-39 Xuanzhong joined to KI-7 Fuliu | Ascites due to rheumatic Heart disease |
| KI-11 Henggu, SP-9 Yinlingquan | Spermatorrhea, impotence and premature ejaculation |
| SP-9 Yinlingquan, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Enuresis |
| SP-6 Sanyinjiao, M-CA-18 Zigong | Irregular menstruation |
| UB-23 Shenshu, LI-4 Hegu, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Amenorrhea |
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Do not use this point if there is a major imbalance in the pulses.
Notes
This point is generally favored for Excess conditions, while REN-4 Guanyuan is favored for Deficiency conditions. This point is also indicated for edema. This is a heavy duty moxa point and a general local point for Bladder disorders, specifically assisting the transforming functions of Qi. It aids in transforming Body Fluids into urine. This is a very powerful point for the testes and pancreas.
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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