Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

3 cun above the centre of the umbilicus and 4 cun lateral to the

anterior midline, on the mamillary line.

How to find

The distance between the sternocostal angle and the centre of the

umbilicus can be divided into 8 proportional cun, which can dif-

fer considerably from the patient’s finger cun; therefore, only

proportional cun measurements should be applied (elastic tape

➞2.3.1). First, measure 3 cun from the umbilicus in a superior

direction, then 4 cun in a lateral direction, where SP-16is

located on the mamillary line. Depending on the shape of the

thorax, this point will either be located on the abdomen or it will

project onto the lower border of the ribcage.

Located on the same level are ➞Ren-11(anterior midline),

➞KID-18(0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline) and ➞ST-22

(2 cun lateral to the anterior midline).

Needling

Vertically 0.5–1 cun. Caution: Peritoneum, pregnancy. Depend-

ing on the shape of the thorax, the correct location of this point

might be on the costal cartilage. In this case, either transverse

(subcutaneous) needling or locate the point more medially (or

choose an alternative point).

Actions/Indications

● Regulates Qi in the Intestines

● Drains Dampness

Special features

Meeting point with the yin wei mai

SP-16 Abdomen Sorrow FUAI

SP-15

4 cun SP-16

3 cun

Midline Mamillary

line

18

16

15

25

(^2218)
17
22
8
12
6
LIV-14
G.B.-24
16
LIV-13
14
15
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Umbilicus
1
Sterno-
costal
angle
Ren-11
Umbilicus
3 cun
KID-18KID-18 Ren-11
Ren-10
0.5 cun Umbilicus
2 cun
KID-17
ST-22
3 cun
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