Kidney Channel

Shiguan KID-18

Chinese: 石关

Pinyin: Shí Guān

Location

3 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. 

Shiguan KID-18 is 3 cun above the umbilicus and 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline. 

Main actions

  1. Regulates Qi and Blood in the Lower Burner
  2. Eases pain
  3. Harmonizes the Stomach

Indications

Lockjaw Red eyes Eye pain Vomiting Retching Hiccuping Dark Urine Infertility Constipation Abdominal pain Spine stiffness Inner canthus pain Inner canthus redness Postpartum abdominal pain Postpartum lateral costal region pain

Needling

Vertically 0.5–1 cun.

Caution: Peritoneum, pregnancy

Commentary for Shiguan KID-18

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. 

For Shiguan KID-18, it can remove the malign blood that stagnates in the Uterus after childbirth. It also invigorates Qi and Blood in the abdomen and the lateral costal region, so as to ease severe pain. It is also useful for many other gynecological disorders. 

On the other hand, it also harmonizes the Stomach and treats symptoms such as hiccup, vomiting, retching, much spittle and inability to open the mouth.