Stomach Channel

Qichong ST-30

Chinese: 气冲

Pinyin: Qì chōng

Location

5  cun below the umbilicus, 2 cun lateral to the anterior midline, superior to the inguinal groove, on the medial side of the femoral artery, nerve and vein. 

How to locate

First locate Qugu REN-2 at the cross of the upper border of the pubic symphysis and anterior midline. 

Locate Qichong ST-30 by measuring 2 cun lateral from REN-2. 

It is also at the midline between the anterior midline and the mamillary line. It is about 1 cun superior to the inguinal groove and medial to the femoral artery, nerve and vein.

 

Main actions

  1. Invigorates Blood and Qi in the Lower Burner
  2. Subdues Rebellious Qi in the Penetrating Vessel
  3. Tonifies the Pre and Post Heaven Qi

Indications

Impotence Amenorrhea Penis pain Infertility Vaginal pain Hernial pain Heavy periods Testicle pain Abdominal pain Painful period Swelling penis Hypogastric pain Vaginal swelling Placenta retention Testicle retraction Abdominal distension Irregular menstruation Difficult breastfeeding Lower abdominal hardness Abdominal and epigastric fullness

Needling

0.5–1 cun vertically or 1.5 cun slightly obliquely towards the external genitalia for disorders of the urogenital tract.

The Bladder needs to be emptied before the needling. 

Caution: Femoral artery, Pregnancy. Urinary bladder which is quite superficial in a superior direction. In men, the spermatic ducts which is quite superficial in an inferior direction.

Commentary for Qichong ST-30

Qichong ST-30 is a very important point of the Stomach Channel with various functions. 

First of all, it is a point of the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) and this is how it get its name "Penetrating Qi". Its other name is "Qijie (Qi Street)", which is also an alternative term for Penetrating Vessel. This is the point Penetrating Vessels merges from the Interior and imposes influence over all abdomen Channels. 

Since the Penetrating Vessel is the Sea of Blood, ST-30 has a powerful effect in moving Blood, especially in the Lower Burner (eg: genitals, Uterus or lower abdomen). Therefore, it is often indicated in Excess patterns of the abdomen and genitalia, characterized by abdominal pain, abdominal masses, hernia, painful periods, swelling of penis, retention of placenta and swelling of prostate.

In order to enhance the effectiveness, it can also be used together with its so called opening and coupled points: Gongsun SP-4 and Neiguan P-6. This combination is also able to invigorate Qi of the Penetrating Vessel, especially in subduing Rebellious Qi there. 

On the other hand, Qichong ST-30 is also the Sea of Food itself. It is because it can enhance the Stomach's function of rotting and ripening food as well as Spleen's function of transformation and transportation. Thus it benefits the digesting system so as to supply Food Qi (Post-Heaven Qi) to the body. 

Being a major point of the Penetrating Vessel and Sea of Food, it is the link between the root of the Pre-Heaven Qi (Kidneys) and the root of the Post-Heaven Qi (Stomach). Therefore, it is a powerful point in tonifying both Pre and Post Heaven Qi.