Atlas of Acupuncture

6.2 Extra Points: Chest and Abdomen (EX-CA)

Location

On the anterior midline, 2.5 cun inferior to the umbilicus.

How to find

The distance between the centre of the umbilicus and the upper

border of the pubic symphysis is divided into 5 proportional cun,

which can vary considerably from the patient’s finger cun.

Therefore, only proportional cun measurements should be used

(helpful device: elastic tape ➞2.3.1). Zhixieis located at the

midpoint of this distance, between ➞Ren-4(2 cun superior to

the upper border of the pubic symphysis) and ➞Ren-5(2 cun

inferior to the umbilicus). Or:Spreading hands technique

(➞2.3.3): Place the little fingers on the umbilicus and the upper

border of the pubic symphysis respectively and spread the hands

evenly, joining the thumbs at the midpoint of this distance.

Needling

Vertically 0.5–1 cun. Caution: Peritoneum, full bladder, pregnancy.

Actions/Indications

● Stops diarrhoea

End Diarrhoea ZHIXIE Ex-CA

zhixie

Ren-5

Ren-4

2.5 cun

Upper border of

the pubic symphysis

Umbilicus

Ren-5

3 cun

Ren-2

Ren-4

2 cun

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