KI-1

Yongquan "Bubbling Spring"

Kidney ChannelWell (Jing) PointWood PointDrainage Point

Location

Actions

Nourishes Yin and clears Empty-Heat
Regulates the Lower Burner
Extinguishes interior Wind
Calms the Mind
Restores consciousness

Key point: Despite being on the Kidney (Yin) channel, KI-1 has a marked reducing/draining effect — used in Excess patterns, resuscitation, and to bring rebellious Yang or Wind down from the head; its location on the sole gives it a uniquely strong “sinking” action.

Indications

Yin Deficiency

Dry tongue, dry throat, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating.

Digestive / Urinary

Constipation, difficult urination, abdominal fullness, umbilical pain, infertility, impotence.

Neurological

Epilepsy, headache, vertigo.

Mental

Agitation, insomnia, poor memory, fear, rage, manic behaviour.

Emergency

Unconsciousness from Wind-stroke.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Nourishes Yin and clears Empty-Heat - used for the pattern of Heart and Kidney not harmonized.
A strong calming effect for severe anxiety or mental illness such as hypomania.

KI-2

Rangu "Blazing Valley"

Kidney ChannelSpring (Ying) PointFire PointBeginning Point — Yin Stepping Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai)

Location

Actions

Clears Empty-Heat and cools Blood
Invigorates the Yin Stepping Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai)

Key point: The main point to clear Empty-Heat from the Kidneys specifically (malar flush, five-palm heat, evening heat, night sweating) — can be combined with LU-10 for Lung Empty-Heat or HE-6 for Heart Empty-Heat.

Indications

Yin Deficiency

Dry throat, night sweating, feeling of heat in the evening, five-palm heat, malar flush.

Gynaecological / Urinary

Itching of genitals, infertility, irregular menstruation, difficult urination, unilateral abdominal pain, abdominal masses.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

As the Yin Stepping Vessel's beginning point, also moves Qi and Blood in that vessel - used for unilateral abdominal pain and abdominal masses.

KI-3

Taixi "Greater Stream"

Kidney ChannelStream (Shu) & Source (Yuan) PointEarth Point

Location

Actions

Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang)
Strengthens the Kidney's receiving of Qi
Calms the Mind
Benefits the Essence
Strengthens the lower back and knees
Regulates the uterus

Key point: The main point to tonify the Kidneys in any deficiency — Yin, Yang, Qi, Essence, and reception of Qi all at once; whether moxa is used determines if Yang or Yin predominates.

Indications

Constitutional

Backache, dizziness, tinnitus, exhaustion, feeling cold, frequent urination, cold and weak knees.

Yin Deficiency

Dry throat, night sweating, hot palms.

Respiratory / Mental

Cough, wheezing, breathlessness, insomnia, excessive dreaming, poor memory.

Reproductive

Seminal or nocturnal emissions, impotence, premature ejaculation, irregular periods, infertility.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

One of the three core Kidney-tonifying points, together with BL-23 and Ren-4.
Regulates the Uterus via its effect on Essence.
Used to treat any type of chronic lower backache.

KI-4

Dazhong "Big Bell"

Kidney ChannelConnecting (Luo) Point

Location

Actions

Strengthens the Kidney's receiving of Qi
Calms and lifts the Mind
Benefits urination
Strengthens the back

Key point: Via its Luo connection to the Bladder channel, especially useful for chronic backache from Kidney deficiency, combined with Governing Vessel points.

Indications

Respiratory

Cough, coughing of blood, wheezing, breathlessness, rattling sound in the throat, chest oppression.

Mental

Palpitations, agitation, mental retardation, manic behaviour, propensity to anger, somnolence, fright, unhappiness, desire to close doors and remain at home.

Urinary

Difficult urination, dribbling or retention of urine.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

The indication “desire to close doors and remain at home” is a vivid classical description of withdrawal and depression from Kidney-related mental disturbance.

KI-5

Shuiquan "Water Spring"

Kidney ChannelAccumulation (Xi) Point

Location

Actions

Benefits urination
Regulates the uterus and menstruation

Key point: As an Xi point, used acutely — cystitis or urethritis, umbilical pain, and specifically amenorrhoea from Kidney deficiency.

Indications

Urinary

Difficult urination, dribbling of urine.

Gynaecological

Scanty periods, amenorrhoea, irregular menstruation, painful periods, prolapse of uterus.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-6

Zhaohai "Shining Sea"

Kidney ChannelOpening Point — Yin Stepping Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai)

Location

Actions

Nourishes Kidney-Yin
Benefits the eyes
Calms the Mind
Invigorates the Yin Stepping Vessel
Benefits the throat
Regulates the uterus and menstruation

Key point: The best point on the Kidney channel to nourish Kidney-Yin and moisten dryness — uniquely directs Yin energy specifically up to the eyes and throat via the Yin Stepping Vessel.

Indications

Yin Deficiency

Dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, backache, dry eyes, dry throat, dry cough.

Eyes / Mental

Blurred vision, red eyes, floaters, insomnia, somnolence, sadness, fright, nightmares.

Genital / Muscular

Itching of genitals, involuntary erection, hypogastric pain, tightness of the inner leg muscles, foot cramps, hemiplegia.

Gynaecological

Irregular periods, amenorrhoea, painful periods, infertility from Cold in the Uterus, difficult labour.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combined with BL-62 for insomnia: reinforce KI-6, reduce BL-62 (reverse for somnolence).
Calms the Mind by nourishing Yin - anxiety and restlessness from Yin deficiency.
Cools Blood - used in skin diseases characterized by Heat in the Blood.
Treats epilepsy specifically with night-time attacks (vs. BL-62 for daytime attacks).

KI-7

Fuliu "Returning Current"

Kidney ChannelRiver (Jing-River) PointMetal PointTonification Point

Location

Actions

Tonifies the Kidneys
Resolves Dampness
Opens the Water passages of the Lower Burner and resolves oedema
Strengthens the lower back
Regulates sweating

Key point: Tonifies the Kidneys similarly to KI-3, but the author's clinical view is that it is better specifically for Kidney-Yang — an ongoing debate in the literature, supported here by its oedema-resolving action.

Indications

Constitutional

Backache, dizziness, tinnitus, weak knees, tiredness.

Digestive

Diarrhoea, abdominal fullness, mucus and blood in the stools, borborygmi.

Urinary / Fluid

Oedema, difficult urination, retention of urine, painful or turbid urine.

Sweating

Sweating or night sweating.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Can promote or stop sweating depending on technique - reduce (combined with L.I.-4) to promote sweating in exterior Wind-Cold; reinforce (combined with HE-6) to stop night sweating from Kidney-Yin deficiency.

KI-8

Jiaoxin "Meeting the Spleen Channel"

Kidney ChannelAccumulation (Xi) Point — Yin Stepping Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai)

Location

Actions

Benefits the Uterus and regulates menstruation
Resolves Dampness
Removes obstructions from the channel

Key point: As the Yin Stepping Vessel's own Xi point, particularly good at dissolving abdominal masses (especially Zheng Jia in women) and treating menstrual problems from Blood stasis.

Indications

Gynaecological

Painful, heavy or irregular periods, amenorrhoea.

Digestive / Urinary

Abdominal fullness, diarrhoea, retention of urine, painful or turbid urine, swelling and pain of testicles, itching of genitals.

Other

Unilateral abdominal pain, abdominal masses.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-9

Zhubin "Guest House"

Kidney ChannelAccumulation (Xi) Point — Yin Linking Vessel (Yin Wei Mai)

Location

Actions

Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices
Tonifies Kidney-Yin
Opens the chest
Regulates the Yin Linking Vessel

Key point: An excellent point to calm deep anxiety and mental restlessness from Kidney-Yin deficiency, in the pattern of Heart and Kidneys not harmonized — its name (“Guest House”) reflects the Heart as guest, hosted by the Kidneys.

Indications

Mental

Anxiety, insomnia, palpitations, manic behaviour.

Constitutional

Backache, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, dry throat.

Chest

Feeling of stuffiness under the xiphoid process, oppression of the chest.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combine with the Yin Linking Vessel's opening points, P-6 and SP-4, since KI-9 is that vessel's own starting/Xi point.

KI-10

Yingu "Yin Valley"

Kidney ChannelSea (He) PointWater Point

Location

Actions

Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner
Tonifies Kidney-Yin

Key point: One of the three Yin knee Sea points (with SP-9 and LIV-8) for resolving Lower Burner Dampness, plus nourishes Kidney-Yin — distinguished from KI-6 (Yin to eyes/throat) and KI-9 (Yin for emotional problems) by its more general, physical Yin-nourishing role.

Indications

Urinary

Hypogastric pain and fullness, abdominal distension and pain, difficult, turbid or painful urination.

Constitutional

Backache, tinnitus, deafness, night sweating, dark urine, dry throat.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-11

Henggu "Pubic Bone"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

Location

Actions

Resolves Dampness
Moves Qi and Blood in the Lower Burner
Clears Heat

Key point: The first Kidney-channel point on the abdominal Penetrating Vessel pathway (right after it emerges at ST-30) — inherits a uniquely dynamic, forceful Qi/Blood-moving quality from this position.

Indications

Urinary / Genital

Difficulty urinating, retention of urine, hypogastric fullness, genital pain, lower abdominal pain.

Eyes

Inner canthus of eyes red and painful.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Like other Penetrating Vessel abdominal points, also reaches the eyes via the Vessel's pathway.

KI-12

Dahe "Big Glory"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

Location

Actions

Tonifies the Kidneys
Benefits the Essence
Regulates the Uterus and menstruation
Clears Heat

Key point: The point where Essence classically “concentrates”, and where, per traditional embryology, the uterus's first enlargement in pregnancy manifests — combined with Ren-3 and SP-6 to promote ovulation.

Indications

Constitutional

Backache, tinnitus, deafness, night sweating, dry throat and eyes.

Reproductive

Impotence, seminal emissions, prolapse of uterus, irregular or painful periods, infertility.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Used to promote ovulation at the start of the third phase of the menstrual cycle, combined with Ren-3 and SP-6.

KI-13

Qixue "Qi Hole"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)Meeting Point (Liver • Spleen)

Location

Actions

Tonifies the Kidneys and Essence
Strengthens the Uterus and consolidates the Penetrating and Directing Vessels
Moves Qi and Blood
Regulates the two lower orifices
Clears Heat

Key point: A genuinely dual-function point — a powerful Kidney_pencil_sketch/Essence tonic on one hand, and a treatment for Excess-pattern Running Piglet Syndrome (rebellious Penetrating Vessel Qi surging from the lower abdomen to the chest and throat) on the other.

Indications

Constitutional

Backache, tinnitus, deafness, weak knees.

Gynaecological / Reproductive

Amenorrhoea, irregular periods, excessive menstrual bleeding, infertility, impotence.

Abdominal

Abdominal pain, Running Piglet Syndrome, urinary difficulty, diarrhoea.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combine with Ren-4 for chronic asthma, via strengthening the Kidney's reception of Qi.
Important for consolidating the Penetrating and Directing Vessels in excessive menstrual bleeding.

KI-14

Siman "Four Fullnesses"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

Location

Actions

Moves Qi and Blood in the lower abdomen
Regulates the Uterus and menstruation
Nourishes Essence and Marrow

Key point: The main Penetrating Vessel point to invigorate Blood in the lower abdomen and Uterus — The author's point of choice (with ST-28) for uterine myomas and (with ST-29) for endometriosis, both Blood-stasis conditions.

Indications

Abdominal

Lower abdominal pain, umbilical pain, constipation, Running Piglet Syndrome.

Gynaecological

Painful periods, excessive menstrual bleeding, irregular periods, retention of lochia, excessive vaginal discharge, infertility.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Also nourishes Essence and Marrow, though used more often in practice for Excess Blood-stasis patterns.

KI-16

Huangshu "Transporting Point of Huang"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

Location

Actions

Tonifies the Kidneys
Benefits the Membranes (Huang)
Benefits the Heart
Moves Qi and Blood in the abdomen
Regulates the Intestines

Key point: Connected to the “Gaohuang” region (between heart and diaphragm) via Kidney-Qi's upward pathway — the abdominal-line counterpart to BL-17 Geshu on the back, able to harmonize Kidneys and Heart simultaneously.

Indications

Constitutional

Backache, tinnitus, deafness, tiredness, weak knees.

Digestive

Abdominal distension and pain, umbilical pain, constipation, diarrhoea, Cold in the Large Intestine.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Calms the Heart and relieves anxiety from rebellious Penetrating Vessel Qi.
Useful when Kidney-Yin fails to nourish the Heart.

KI-17

Shangqu "Bent Metal"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

Location

Actions

Regulates the Spleen, harmonizes the Stomach and dissolves accumulation

Key point: A local point for the Large Intestine specifically — its name references the bend between the ascending and transverse colon.

Indications

Digestive

Constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal masses, abdominal fullness and pain, difficulty swallowing, nausea and vomiting.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-21

Youmen "Door of Darkness"

Kidney ChannelPoint of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai)

Location

Actions

Harmonizes the Stomach
Subdues rebellious Qi and stops vomiting
Benefits the breasts
Moves Qi in the chest

Key point: The point where the Penetrating Vessel leaves its superficial pathway to disperse into the chest and breasts — subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi and moves Qi in the chest and breasts.

Indications

Digestive

Vomiting of foamy saliva, hiccup, sour regurgitation, retching, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, epigastric fullness, poor appetite.

Chest / Breast

Breast distension and pain, milk not flowing, chest pain, hypochondrial distension, cough.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combine with ST-19 for nausea and vomiting.
Combine with its opening points, SP-4 and P-6, plus KI-13 or KI-14, for rebellious Penetrating Vessel Qi, depending on whether the condition is Full or Full-Empty.

KI-23

Shenfeng "Mind Seal"

Kidney ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Opens the chest and stops cough
Harmonizes the Stomach and subdues rebellious Qi
Benefits the breasts

Key point: A local chest point harmonizing the Lungs and Kidneys - promoting Lung-Qi's descent and the Kidney's reception of Qi - used for breathing problems and rebellious Stomach-Qi.

Indications

Respiratory

Tightness of the chest, cough, wheezing, breathlessness, hypochondrial distension and fullness.

Digestive

Nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, poor appetite.

Breast

Breast distension and pain, breast abscess.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-24

Lingxu "Spirit Burial Ground"

Kidney ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Promotes the free flow of Liver-Qi
Opens the chest and promotes the descending of Lung-Qi

Key point: Same Lung-Kidney harmonizing role as KI-23, plus an added ability to move Liver-Qi in the chest and hypochondrium.

Indications

Chest

Distension and pain of the hypochondrium.

Respiratory

Cough, wheezing, breathlessness.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-25

Shencang "Mind Storage"

Kidney ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Opens the chest and promotes the descending of Lung-Qi
Subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi

Key point: Same Lung-Kidney harmonizing role as KI-23/KI-24, plus subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi for nausea and vomiting.

Indications

Respiratory

Cough, wheezing, breathlessness, chest pain.

Digestive

Nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, poor appetite.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

KI-27

Shufu "Transporting Point Mansion"

Kidney ChannelNo special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Promotes the descending of Lung-Qi and stops cough
Harmonizes the Stomach and stops vomiting

Key point: An important local point for asthma from Kidney deficiency, completing the sequence of upper-chest Kidney points (KI-23/24/25/27) that all share this Lung-Kidney harmonizing role.