REN-1

Huiyin "Meeting of Yin"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Beginning point of Ren Mai, Chong Mai and Du MaiSun Si Miao Ghost Point

Location

Actions

Regulates the two lower orifices and genitalia and resolves Dampness
Promotes resuscitation
Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices
Nourishes Yin

Key point: The point where Ren Mai, Du Mai and Chong Mai all emerge from the Interior — a dynamic point for moving Qi and Blood and subduing rebellious Qi, with some indications (epilepsy, manic depression, haemorrhoids) really reflecting Governing Vessel pathology.

Indications

Genitourinary

Difficult urination and defecation, enuresis, impotence, pain in penis, sweating of genitals, swelling of testicles/vulva/vagina, prolapse of rectum, haemorrhoids, itching and pain of perineum.

Mental / Emergency

Coma or unconsciousness from drowning; manic depression.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

As one of Sun Si Miao's Ghost points, calms the Mind and opens its orifices in manic depression.
Nourishes Yin and Kidney-Essence — used for incontinence, enuresis and nocturnal emissions from Yin deficiency.

REN-2

Qugu "Curved Bone"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Meeting point (Ren Mai • Liver)

Location

Actions

Benefits the Bladder and regulates urination
Consolidates the Essence
Strengthens the Kidneys and the Essence

Key point: A good alternative to REN-1 for urination and Dampness, but with more of a "firming" action on the Essence — the point of choice for seminal emissions, premature ejaculation and chronic vaginal discharge.

Indications

Genitourinary

Dribbling or difficult urination, retention of urine, enuresis, itchy scrotum, contraction of penis, pain in genitalia, vaginal itching.

Essence

Seminal emissions, premature ejaculation, chronic vaginal discharge, impotence, exhaustion of the five Yin organs.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-3

Zhongji "Middle Pole"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Front Collecting (Mu) Point — BladderMeeting point (Ren Mai • Spleen • Liver • Kidneys)Meeting point of the three Yin leg channels

Location

Actions

Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner
Promotes the Bladder's Qi transformation
Benefits the Uterus and regulates menstruation
Strengthens the Kidneys and nourishes the Essence

Key point: The main point for the Bladder's Qi-transformation function — used more with reducing method in acute/Excess urinary problems, and specific for Damp-Heat of the Bladder (combine with SP-6, SP-9 or LIV-5). The author favours REN-4 over REN-3 for Deficiency patterns.

Indications

Genitourinary

Genital itching and pain, excessive vaginal discharge, retention of urine, frequent urination, dark urine, pain on urination.

Gynaecological

Infertility, irregular periods, amenorrhoea, excessive uterine bleeding, abdominal masses, retention of placenta or lochia.

Kidney / Constitutional

Lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus, weak knees, deficiency of Original Qi.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-4

Guanyuan "Gate to the Original Qi"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Front Collecting (Mu) Point — Small IntestineMeeting point (Ren Mai • Spleen • Liver • Kidneys)Meeting point of Ren Mai and Chong Mai

Location

Actions

Nourishes Blood and Yin
Strengthens the Kidneys
Strengthens the Uterus and regulates menstruation
Benefits Original Qi
Benefits the Bladder
Subdues rebellious Qi in the Penetrating Vessel
Regulates the Small Intestine
Strengthens the Kidney's receiving of Qi
Roots the Mind and the Ethereal Soul

Key point: Probably the most important tonic point in the body — tonifies Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang, Essence and Original Qi all at once. With direct moxa it rescues collapsed Yang; without, it's the main point for the Uterus/menstruation and a powerful calmer of anxiety by rooting Qi downward.

Indications

Kidney / Constitutional

Lower backache, weak knees, dizziness, tinnitus, feeling of cold in the back, dark face, frequent urination, impotence.

Gynaecological

Infertility, cold sensation in the vagina, amenorrhoea, bleeding in pregnancy, persistent lochial discharge.

Bladder

Retention of urine, dark or painful urination, blood in the urine.

Penetrating Vessel

Cold in the lower abdomen, Running Piglet Syndrome, abdominal fullness, umbilical pain.

Intestines / Lungs / Mind

Diarrhoea with undigested food; cough, coughing of blood, breathlessness; fear, fright, insomnia.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Compared with REN-3: REN-3 affects the Bladder and is mostly reducing/Excess-pattern work; REN-4 affects the Uterus, has a much stronger general tonic effect, and calms the Mind — REN-3 does not.
Combine with LU-7 and KI-6 (Ren Mai opening points) for menstrual/gynaecological problems, or with SP-4 and P-6 (Chong Mai opening points) to subdue rebellious Penetrating Vessel Qi.

REN-5

Shimen "Stone Door"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Front Collecting (Mu) Point — Triple Burner

Location

Actions

Opens the Water passages and promotes fluid transformation/excretion in the Lower Burner
Regulates Qi in the Lower Burner
Regulates the Uterus
Strengthens Original Qi

Key point: Rouses Original Qi (via its role as the Triple Burner's Front-Mu point) to circulate to all organs and channels — best for menstrual disorders complicated by Dampness in the Lower Burner or Phlegm in the Uterus, where REN-4 alone isn't specific enough.

Indications

Urinary / Genital

Difficult urination, retention of urine, painful or dark urine, oedema, diarrhoea, genital itching, swelling of scrotum/vulva/penis.

Qi Stagnation

Twisting lower abdominal pain, Running Piglet Syndrome, umbilical pain, retraction of testicles.

Gynaecological / Constitutional

Persistent lochial discharge, abdominal masses, heavy periods, stone-like hardness of the lower abdomen, exhaustion.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-6

Qihai "Sea of Qi"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Meeting point (Ren Mai • Kidney)Meeting point of Ren Mai and Chong Mai

Location

Actions

Tonifies Qi and Yang
Raises sinking Qi
Tonifies Original Qi
Regulates Qi in the Lower Burner

Key point: A major tonifying point, especially with direct moxa — used for extreme exhaustion and depression. Unlike REN-4 (which nourishes Blood/Yin and calms the Mind), REN-6 tonifies Qi/Yang and actively moves Qi, so it also treats stagnation-type lower abdominal pain.

Indications

Qi / Yang Deficiency

Qi or Original Qi deficiency, collapse of Yang, tiredness, cold limbs, loose stools, weak voice.

Sinking Qi

Prolapse of uterus, profuse menstrual bleeding from Qi deficiency, chronic vaginal discharge, frequent urination or incontinence, feeling of bearing down.

Qi Stagnation

Hernial/genitourinary disorders, umbilical pain, abdominal pain.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combine with G.B.-34 to move stagnant Qi and relieve lower abdominal pain/distension.

REN-7

Yinjiao "Yin Crossing"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Meeting point (Ren Mai • Kidney)Meeting point of Ren Mai and Chong Mai

Location

Actions

Regulates the Uterus and menstruation
Regulates the Penetrating Vessel
Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner
Nourishes Yin

Key point: Its dual nourish-Yin/tonify-Yang-to-resolve-Dampness action comes from being the meeting point where Original Yang and Original Yin cross — the author uses it often to nourish Kidney-Yin in menopausal problems.

Indications

Gynaecological

Heavy, painful or irregular periods, amenorrhoea, infertility, menopausal hot flushes.

Penetrating Vessel

Hardness and pain of the abdomen, Running Piglet Syndrome, chest pain, hypogastric or umbilical pain.

Dampness

Hernial/genitourinary disorders, retraction of testicles, itching of genitals, retention of urine and faeces.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-8

Shenque "Spirit Palace"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)No special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Rescues Yang
Strengthens the Spleen
Tonifies Original Qi

Key point: Never needled — used only with indirect moxibustion (moxa cones on a layer of salt in the navel) to rescue collapsed Yang in the flaccid stage of Wind-stroke, or for severe Kidney-Yang/Original-Qi deficiency with internal Cold.

Indications

Emergency

Loss of consciousness from Wind-stroke, collapse of Yang.

Spleen-Yang

Cold in the abdomen, diarrhoea, borborygmi, diarrhoea in the elderly/children, prolapse of rectum.

Constitutional

Infertility.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

At the centre of the umbilicus — anatomically and energetically the point most connected to Pre-Heaven Qi, via the umbilical-cord link to the mother's Gate of Life (Ming Men).

REN-9

Shuifen "Water Separation"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)No special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Opens the Water passages and promotes fluid transformation

Key point: A key point for promoting the separation of clear from turbid fluids (Small Intestine function) throughout the body — especially indicated for ascites/abdominal oedema.

Indications

Fluids

Oedema (especially abdominal/ascites).

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combine with REN-11 and ST-22 to promote fluid transformation specifically in the Middle Burner.

REN-10

Xiawan "Lower Epigastrium"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Meeting point (Ren Mai • Spleen)

Location

Actions

Promotes the descending of Stomach-Qi
Resolves stagnation of food

Key point: One of three points controlling the epigastrium in thirds — REN-13 (upper, subdues rebellious Qi), REN-12 (middle, digestion itself), REN-10 (lower, moves food through the pylorus/duodenum).

Indications

Digestive

Abdominal and epigastric fullness, abdominal hardness, epigastric pain, nausea, undigested food in the stools.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-11

Jianli "Building Mile"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)No special Five-Element classification

Location

Actions

Promotes the Stomach's rotting and ripening of food
Promotes the descending of Stomach-Qi

Key point: Widely used for Stomach Excess patterns — fullness, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain — better for Excess than Deficiency (contrast with REN-12).

Indications

Digestive

Epigastric and abdominal distension, abdominal pain, vomiting.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-12

Zhongwan "Middle Epigastrium"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Front Collecting (Mu) Point — StomachGathering (Hui) Point — Yang organsFront Collecting (Mu) Point — Middle BurnerMeeting point (Ren Mai • Small Intestine • Triple Burner • Stomach)

Location

Actions

Tonifies Stomach and Spleen
Resolves Dampness and Phlegm
Regulates Stomach-Qi
Calms the Mind

Key point: The author's go-to point to tonify Stomach- and Spleen-Qi in Deficiency patterns (unlike REN-11/REN-13, which suit Excess) — a gentle tonic, best with moxa for Empty-Cold, and can also nourish Stomach-Yin (combine with ST-36 + SP-6) or calm emotional-strain digestive upset.

Indications

Spleen-Qi Deficiency

Tiredness, loose stools, poor appetite, weak limbs, desire to lie down.

Dampness

Abdominal fullness, sticky taste, feeling of heaviness, nausea.

Stomach Disorders (general)

Epigastric pain, poor digestion, easily full, sour regurgitation, vomiting, epigastric distension.

Mind

Worry, anxiety, pensiveness.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Combine with REN-15 and DU-24 to calm the Mind when digestive symptoms are driven by emotional strain.

REN-13

Shangwan "Upper Epigastrium"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Meeting point (Ren Mai • Stomach • Small Intestine)

Location

Actions

Subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi

Key point: The point for rebellious-Qi symptoms confined to the Upper Burner — hiccup, belching, nausea, vomiting — as distinct from REN-10, which promotes descending Qi lower down (failure to descend vs. active rebellion upward).

Indications

Stomach (Excess/rebellious)

Nausea, vomiting, vomiting of blood, difficulty swallowing, sour regurgitation, epigastric distension and fullness.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Often combined with ST-36 and P-6 for morning sickness in pregnancy.

REN-14

Juque "Great Palace"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Front Collecting (Mu) Point — Heart

Location

Actions

Regulates Heart-Qi
Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices
Subdues rebellious Stomach-Qi

Key point: Acts on both Stomach and Heart — ideal when nausea/vomiting has an emotional origin (Heart, not just Stomach, driving the rebellious Qi), and for Phlegm-Heat misting the Heart or Heart-Fire causing insomnia/agitation.

Indications

Heart / Chest

Heart pain, chest pain, phlegm in the chest, fullness of the chest.

Mental

Anxiety, insomnia, manic depression, shouting, anger, disorientation, agitation.

Stomach

Epigastric distension, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, sour regurgitation.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

For mental-emotional symptoms against a background of Heart deficiency (rather than Fire/Phlegm-Heat excess), the author tends to prefer REN-15 instead.

REN-15

Jiuwei "Dove Tail"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Connecting (Luo) Point — Ren MaiSource (Yuan) Point of the five Yin organsSource of Fat Tissue (Gao)

Location

Actions

Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices
Opens the chest and promotes the descending of Qi

Key point: A very powerful point to calm the Mind, particularly in Blood/Yin deficiency with severe anxiety, worry or obsessive fear — and it opens the chest for both Lung-Qi (cough, wheezing) and Heart-Qi (anxiety, oppression) descent at once.

Indications

Mind

Manic depression, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia.

Chest

Fullness and pain of the chest, wheezing, breathlessness, oppression of the chest, sighing, cough.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

As the Source point of all five Yin organs, it has a general nourishing effect on their Original Qi.

REN-17

Shanzhong (or Tanzhong) "Middle of Chest"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Front Collecting (Mu) Point — PericardiumFront Collecting (Mu) Point — Upper BurnerGathering (Hui) Point — QiPoint of the Sea of QiMeeting point (Ren Mai • Spleen • Kidney • Small Intestine • Triple Burner)

Location

Actions

Tonifies Qi and strengthens Gathering Qi (Zong Qi)
Opens the chest, regulates and descends Qi
Benefits the breasts and promotes lactation

Key point: A major Qi-tonifying point (Gathering-Qi point + Sea-of-Qi point) but specifically for Lung-Qi/chest Qi, not Spleen or Kidney-Qi — combine with ST-36/REN-12/REN-6 if the deficiency is really Spleen- or Kidney-rooted.

Indications

Qi Deficiency

Weak voice, tiredness, propensity to catching colds, spontaneous sweating.

Chest

Chest pain, wheezing, breathlessness, cough, fullness and oppression of the chest.

Breast

Insufficient lactation, breast abscess, breast distension.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

Needle towards the affected breast for lactation problems; insert horizontally downwards when used to tonify/move Qi.

REN-22

Tiantu "Heaven Projection"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Point of the Yin Linking Vessel (Yin Wei Mai)Window of Heaven Point

Location

Actions

Stimulates the descending of Lung-Qi
Resolves Phlegm
Benefits the throat and voice

Key point: An important local throat point, widely used in both acute and chronic cough/asthma to resolve Phlegm and bring Lung-Qi back down.

Indications

Respiratory

Cough, wheezing, breathlessness, rattling sound in the throat, phlegm in the throat.

Throat

Feeling of obstruction in the throat, throat ulcers, swelling of throat, dry throat, hoarse or sudden loss of voice, goitre.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-23

Lianquan "Corner Spring"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Point of the Yin Linking Vessel (Yin Wei Mai)

Location

Actions

Benefits the tongue and speech
Subdues rebellious Qi

Key point: Mostly used for aphasia or slurred speech following Wind-stroke — combine with HE-5 for speech difficulties.

Indications

Speech / Tongue

Swelling below the tongue, difficulty speaking, sudden loss of voice, aphasia after Wind-stroke, contraction/protrusion of the tongue, dry throat, mouth/tongue ulcers.

Respiratory

Cough, wheezing, breathlessness, vomiting of foamy saliva.

Clinical Pearls (summarized from Comments)

REN-24

Chengjiang "Saliva Receiver"

Ren Mai (Directing Vessel)Meeting point (Ren Mai • Du Mai • Large Intestine • Stomach)Sun Si Miao Ghost Point

Location

Actions

Extinguishes interior Wind
Removes obstructions from the channel in the face

Key point: A local point for Wind invading the face — facial paralysis and deviation of the mouth — reflecting the Directing Vessel's pathway circling the mouth up to the eyes.

Indications

Facial Wind

Hemiplegia, deviation of mouth, lockjaw, epilepsy, tetany.

Local

Pain and numbness of the face, swelling of face, toothache, gum pain, sudden loss of voice, purple lips.