NAME
ZHONGWAN
LOCATION
On the midline of the abdomen, four cun above the umbilicus and midway between the umbilicus and the sternocostal angle.
On the anterior midline four cun above the umbilicus.
NEEDLING
Perpendicular insertion 0.8 to 1.5 cun.
Caution: In thin patients, deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity.
Perpendicular insertion 1 to 2 Cun.
Puncture perpendicularly 0.5 to 1.2 cun.
Moxibustion is applicable.
Straight insertion 1 to 2 cun or the needle may be inserted at a slant in all directions around the point. Sensation: a heavy, distended feeling in the upper abdomen, or a feeling of contraction in the Stomach region.
Caution: Because the Stomach, pancreas, and abdominal aorta are in the deep position behind this point, be careful not to needle too deeply, particularly with thin patients.
For patients who have an enlarged Liver or Spleen, slanted needling to the left or right of the point should be avoided.
COMMAND FUNCTIONS
Front Mu point of the Stomach
Front Mu point of the Middle Jiao
Meeting point of the Fu organs
Meeting point of the REN channel with the Small Intestine, San Jiao, Lung, Liver, Pericardium and Stomach channels
ACTIONS
Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Descends Rebellious Qi
Tonifies the Stomach
Fortifies the Spleen, especially Qi and Yang
Regulates Qi and Blood
Warms Cold
Regulates Stomach Qi and Yin
Alleviates pain
Relieves Food Retention
Reduces digestive Stagnation
Eliminates Dampness
Transforms Damp-Heat and Phlegm
Dries Cold-Dampness
Calms the fetus
Tonifies Ying Qi
Clears Stomach Fire and Heat
INDICATIONS
All diseases of the Stomach and Spleen
Interior injury to the Stomach and Spleen
Epigastric pain and fullness
Difficult ingestion
Eats little but is easily full
Nausea
Stomach reflux
Vomiting
Hematemesis
Abdominal distention
Focal distention and fullness
Gastric distention
Pain of the Spleen
Hardness and pain of the lateral costal region
Loss of consciousness
Mania
Depression
Epilepsy
Tongue-thrusting
Dyspnea
Hiccup
Cold counter flow of the limbs
Intermittent suffocation
Dysentery
Fever and chills in Cold Attack
Difficulty bending the body
Gastric pain
Abdominal pain
Malaria with diarrhea and abdominal pain
Sour taste upon swallowing
Vomiting food long after ingestion
Acute and chronic gastritis
Jaundice due to Spleen Deficiency
Yin Cold diarrhea
Anorexia
Gastric hemorrhage
Gastric spasms
Borborygmus
Acute intestinal obstruction
Hyperacidity
Uterine diseases
Madness
Consumptive illness
Pains due to disorders of Qi
Discomfort in the diaphragm
Insomnia
Atrophy syndrome due to Damp-Heat
Restless fetus
Pulmonary tuberculosis with anorexia
Headache due to indigestion
Dizziness
Vertigo
Insanity
Palpitations
Bell's palsy
Numbness
Vaginal abscess
Injury by worry, anxiety and over thinking
Injury by the seven emotions leading to epigastric pain
Diarrhea
Undigested food in the stool
Red and white dysenteric disorder
Difficult defecation
Heat in the Small Intestine
Dark urine
Sudden turmoil disorder
Deficiency-taxation
Sallow complexion
Postpartum Blood dizziness
Heart pain
Chronic and acute childhood fright Wind
Cold body
Scorched, foul odor in the nose
Running piglet Qi
Warm malaria
Aversion to Cold
Purple lips
Swelling
Somber face in color
Dyspepsia
Stomach ache
Distention and pain in the abdomen and Stomach
Pain in the Spleen
Sudden abdominal distention
Hypertension
Cholera with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Inability to eat due to Spleen dysfunction with a sensation like an inverted cup below the false ribs on the left side
Acute and chronic enteritis
Gastric and duodenal ulcers
Constipation
Gastric cancer
Gastric prolapse
Neurasthenia
Nine types of Heart pain
Mental diseases
Spitting blood related to consumptive diseases
Fever from epidemic diseases
Yellowish complexion without jaundice
Renal inflammation
Middle Jiao wasting and thirsting syndrome with emaciation
Childhood nutritional impairment
Fatigue after childbirth
Morning sickness
Burning sensation in the esophagus and throat
Difficulty breathing
Suicidal tendencies
Paralysis
Facial paralysis
Vaginal prolapse
COMBINATIONS
| UB-17 Geshu LIV-13 Zhangmen | REN-17 Shanzhong PC-7 Daling PC-8 Laogong | SP-4 Gongsun ST-41 Jiexi ST-36 Zusanli |
| Vomiting | Vomiting clear, watery saliva | Food Stagnation in the mid-abdomen Stabbing pain in the abdomen that does not cease |
| PC-6 Neiguan ST-36 Zusanli | REN-10 Xiawan | ST-20 Chengman |
| Abdominal pain | Hardness of the abdomen | Hardness and pain in the lateral costal region |
| UB-22 Sanjiaoshu | SP-6 Sanyinjiao | ST-25 Tianshu REN-3 Zhongji |
| Abdominal masses in the hypogastrium due to Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis that are hard and big like a plate with epigastric distention and undigested food | Undigested food in the stool | Ceaseless diarrhea |
| ST-36 Zusanli REN-6 Qihai | KI-4 Dazhong UB-33 Zhongliao REN-4 Guanyuan UB-57 Chengshan KI-3 Taixi | ST-40 Fenglong |
| Hemafecia | Difficult defecation | All Phlegm diseases Head Wind Dyspnea and cough All types of Tan Yin |
| LIV-14 Qimen LI-9 Shanglian | ST-36 Zusanli | SI-4 Waigu |
| Dyspnea with inability to walk | Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi Jaundice with weakness of the four limbs | Spleen Deficiency jaundice |
| N-CA-18 Weizhong ST-36 Zusanli | ST-25 Tianshu PC-6 Neiguan REN-6 Qihai | REN-6 Qihai REN-17 Shanzhong |
| Prolapsed Stomach | Acute intestinal obstruction | Vomiting |
| LIV-14 Qimen ST-37 Shangjuxu | ||
| Asthma |
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Do not moxa if the pain is sharp.
NOTES
This point is equally applicable for Excess and Deficiency. it is the best point to use, especially with moxa, for Cold-Deficient patterns of the Spleen and Stomach. It is very widely used to eliminate Dampness in any part of the body.