Kidney Channel

Futonggu KID-20

Chinese: 腹通谷

Pinyin: Fù Tōng Gǔ

Location

5 cun above the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline. 

How to locate

Divide the distance between the umbilicus center and the sternocostal angle into 8 equal parts. Each part is about 1 cun. 

Futonggu KID-20 is 5 cun above the umbilicus and 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline. 

Main actions

  1. Regulates the Middle Burner
  2. Open the chest and transforms Phlegm

Indications

Malaria Vomiting Coughing Dyspnoea Epilepsy Red eyes Diarrhoea Heart pain Stiff neck Palpitations Loss of voice Chest fullness Disorientation Swollen tongue Mouth deviation Tongue protrusion Inability to speak Abdominal distention Inner canthus redness Lateral costal region pain Undigested food in the stools

Needling

Vertically 0.5–1 cun.

Caution: Peritoneum, pregnancy.

Commentary for Futonggu KID-20

All the Kidney points on the abdomen (from Henggu KID-11 to Youmen KID-21) are also part of the Penetrating Vessel. Thus their indications are related to both the Channel and the Vessel. 

The Penetrating Vessel is the 'Sea of Blood', 'Sea of the 12 Channel' as well as the 'Sea of the abdomen avenue'. Thus its points are often able to invigorate the Blood and Qi and remove Stagnation, especially in the abdomen. 

As for Futonggu KID-20, it is not a major point. Its main action is to regulate the Middle Burner, open the chest and transform Phlegm.