Atlas of Acupuncture

4.8 The Kidney Channel System – Foot shaoyin(zu shao yin jing luo)

4.8.2 The Kidney Divergent Channel

(zu shao yin jing bie)

Pathway

The Kidney divergent channel separates from the Kidney primary

channel in the popliteal fossa at ➞KID-10(yinggu). It

➡meets ➞BL-40(weizhong) in the popliteal fossa

➡ascends to ➞BL-36(chengfu) in the centre of the gluteal crease

➡penetrates the anus and reaches the Kidney (shen) and the

Bladder (pangguang)

➡ascends to ➞BL-23(shenshu) at the level of the lower bor-

der of the spinous process of L2, where it also meets the dai

mai, following it round the waist to the abdomen

➡ascends lateral to the midline to the infraclavicular fossa

➡reaches the neck at ➞Ren-23(liangquan)

➡emerges at the nape of the neck at ➞BL-10(tianzhu) and con-

verges with the Bladder primary channel and the Bladder diver-

gent channel to form one of the 6 he-confluences (here: BL/KID

as first confluence ➞1.3).

Clinical importance

● Strengthens the relationship between the Kidneys and the

Bladder (zangfu-Organ systems). Points on the Kidney pri-

mary channel can therefore be used for disorders of the Blad-

der, and vice versa points on the Bladder primary channel can

treat disorders of the Kidneys.

● Through the connection with the dai mai, KID points can be

used for disorders of the dai mai.

● Kidney Qi and Essence (jing) are sent to the Brain through the

Kidney divergent channel via the spinal canal, thus strength-

ening the connection between the Kidneys, the Marrow and

the Brain.

● Supports the connection to the tongue.

BL-36

BL-40

BL-23

Ren-23

Dai mai

BL-10

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