Jiuwei REN-15
Chinese: 鸠尾
Pinyin: Jiū wěi
Location
On the midline of the abdomen, 7 cun above the umbilicus and 1 cun below the sternocostal angle.
This point is located at the tip of the xiphoid process, which is commonly known as ‘dove-tail’ in China, hence the name of the point.
How to locate
On the midline of the abdomen, divide the distance between the umbilicus and the sternocostal angle into 8 cun. Jiuwei REN-15 is located 7 cun above umbilicus and 1 cun below the sternocostal angle.
Main actions
- Calms the Mind and regulate Heart Qi
- Descends the Lung Qi and opens the chest
Needling
0.5–1 cun obliquely in an inferior direction. The patient should be in an extended position.
Caution: be careful with hypertrophied Organs such as the Heart and Liver, especially with deep needling or oblique insertion in a superior direction.
Commentary for Jiuwei REN-15
Jiuwei REN-15 is the Source (Yuan) point of the five Yin Organs and the Fat Tissue (Gao). It nourishes all Yin Organs (Zang Organs) as it impacts on their Original Qi.
It strongly calms the Mind by opening the Mind's orifices so as to treat symptoms such as serious anxiety, depression, palpitation, worry, emotional upsets, fears, insomnia or obsessions. This is especially the case in Yin or Blood Deficiency patterns.
It can be stimulated to open the chest and descend both Rebellious Lung Qi and Rebellious Heart Qi. The first pattern gives rise to symptoms like coughing, wheezing and short of breath, while the latter can lead to anxiety, sighing and feeling of chest oppression.
As the Connecting-Luo point of the Directing Vessel, it controls the Connecting-Luo Channel, which spreads out in various small branches over the abdomen. In case of Excess in the branches, the patients feel abdomen pain. Otherwise, they feel abdomen itchiness in case of Empty in the branches. Jiuwei REN-15 can be applies for both conditions.