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POINT: REN-4 (CONCEPTION VESSEL-4)  

NAME: GUANYUAN

English: Gate of Origin
Also Known As: First Gate
Gate Origin
Gate of Life
Elixir of Long Life
Hinge at the Source
Dantian
Cinnabar Field

LOCATION:

  • 3 cun inferior to the umbilicus, on the anterior midline.
  • On the midline of the lower abdomen, 3 cun inferior to the umbilicus and 2 cun superior to the pubic symphysis.

NEEDLING:

  • Slanted insertion, pointed downward, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness, sometimes extending to the genitals.
  • Puncture perpendicularly, 0.8 to 1.2 cun.
  • Moxibustion is applicable.
  • Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun, or oblique insertion directed inferiorly 1 to 1.5 cun.
    Caution: deep insertion may penetrate a full Bladder which should therefore be emptied before treatment.

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

  • Front Mu Point of the Small Intestine
  • Intersecting point of the Liver, Spleen and Kidney channels on the REN channel

ACTIONS:

  • Tonifies and nourishes the Kidneys
  • Tonifies Yuan Qi
  • Benefits Jing
  • Regulates the Lower Jiao
  • Benefits the Bladder
  • Warms and fortifies the Spleen
  • Regulates menstruation
  • Tonifies Qi and Blood
  • Nourishes Blood and Yin
  • Warms Cold
  • Enriches Yin
  • Drains pathogenic influences from the Heart
  • Stabilizes Kidney Qi
  • Warms the Yang
  • Raises Middle Qi
  • Regulates the water pathways
  • Regulates the Small Intestines
  • Resolves Dampness and Damp-Heat (especially of the Lower Jiao)
  • Dries Dampness
  • Dries Cold-Dampness
  • Restores Collapsed Yang or Yin
  • Regulates the uterus
  • Assists conception
  • Calms the mind
  • Roots the Ethereal Soul
  • Stimulates the testes
  • Stimulates sex hormones

INDICATIONS:

  • Kidney Deficiency
  • Kidney taxation
  • Abandoned-type Windstroke
  • Seizures
  • Chronic consumptive disorders
  • Lower Jiao wasting and thirsting syndrome with frequent urination
  • Restless fetus disorder due to Deficiency
  • Asthma due to Kidney Deficiency
  • Pulmonary tuberculosis with chills and shortness of breath
  • Hypertension
  • Neurasthenia
  • Forgetfulness
  • Insomnia
  • Dizziness and vertigo due to Qi and Blood Deficiency
  • Emaciation with lassitude
  • Emaciation with constant thirst
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Postpartum abdominal pain
  • Lochioschesis
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Red and white leukorrhea
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Prolonged menstruation
  • Inflamed testicles
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Enuresis
  • Amenorrhea
  • Hernia
  • Hemafecia
  • Frequent urination
  • Postpartum hemorrhage
  • Frigidity
  • Very swollen abdomen
  • Cold menstrual disorders
  • Yin Deficient menstrual disorders
  • Aversion to Cold in the back
  • Withered ears
  • Fear
  • Fear leading to Deficiency consumption
  • White turbidity
  • Bleeding during pregnancy
  • Taxation Heat
  • Kidney Deficiency dyspnea
  • Wind dizziness
  • Lethargy
  • Lack of strength
  • Weakness of Spleen Qi
  • Incontinence of stool in the elderly
  • Vomiting of Phlegm
  • Dark urine
  • The five types of painful urinary dysfunction (Lin)
  • Edema that leads to pain in the lateral costal region
  • Cold accumulation with Deficiency
  • Lower abdominal fullness
  • Intense Heat in the hypogastrium
  • Heaviness of the body like a mountain
  • Syrupy or Qi-type painful urinary dysfunction
  • Infertility
  • Impotence
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Headache
  • Rectal prolapse
  • Stomach prolapse
  • Uterine prolapse
  • Abdominal distention and pain
  • Diarrhea with tenesmus
  • Dysenteric disorders
  • Chronic nephritis
  • Dysuria
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Chyluria
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Prostatitis
  • Abandoned-type coma
  • Collapsing syndrome with cold extremities
  • Shock
  • Generalized weakness
  • Tidal fever
  • Thirst
  • A vague feeling of fear at night
  • Pelvioperitonitis
  • Roundworms in the intestinal tract
  • Twisting pain below the navel that gradually radiates to the genitals
  • Hematuria
  • Tidal fever with hemoptysis
  • Nocturnal emission
  • Retention of urine
  • Indigestion
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Male sterility
  • Nephritis
  • Weakness of the lumbar region and legs
  • Lumbar pain in the middle aged and elderly
  • Pain of the bones and leg joints in the middle aged and elderly
  • Gradual darkening of the face
  • Fright
  • Deep-rooted bone ulcers due to fear
  • Infertility with cold sensations in the vagina
  • Persistent flow of lochia
  • Deficiency consumption with cough
  • Dyspnea with inability to lie down
  • Wasting and thirsting disorder
  • Emaciation of the four limbs despite much eating
  • Weakness of the four limbs
  • Undigested food in the stools
  • Belching
  • Retention of urine due to fetal pressure
  • Urolithiasis (Stone Lin)
  • Burning pain on urination
  • Cold Qi entering the lower abdomen giving rise to pain
  • Running piglet Qi rising to the Heart
  • Sudden turmoil disorder
  • Tremor of the hands

COMBINATIONS:

SP-1
Yinbai
SP-10
Xuehai
ST-36
Zusanli

REN-2 (join)
Qugu
ST-36
Zusanli
SP-6
Sanyinjiao

SP-9
Yinlingquan
SP-6
Sanyinjiao

Functional uterine bleeding

Spermatorrhea

Impotence

Urinary tract infection

LIV-1
Dadun

KI-1
Yongquan

REN-6
Qihai
REN-8
Shenque

Moxa for unilateral distention of a testicle

Moxa for abdominal fullness that radiates to the back

Acute pain with inability to urinate

Moxa for Collapse of Yang

UB-12
Fengmen
UB-60
Kunlun
SJ-16
Tianyou
SJ-1
Guanchong

DU-11
Shendao

LIV-14
Qimen
LU-11
Shaoshang

Wind dizziness and headache

Heat in the body with headache that comes and goes

Distention of the lateral costal region

UB-40
Weizhong
KI-6
Zhaohai
KI-3
Taixi

REN-3
Zhongji
SP-6
Sanyinjiao
REN-5
Shimen
SP-10
Xuehai
LIV-14
Qimen

UB-54
Zhibian
REN-6
Qihai
UB-48
Yanggang

heat sensation and pain in the hypogastrium

Running piglet Qi in women

Red and hesitant urinary flow

REN-5
Shimen
REN-3
Zhongji
REN-2
Qugu
SP-6
Sanyinjiao

REN-6
Qihai
KI-3
Taixi
KI-10
Yingu
UB-23
Shenshu
UB-28
Pangguangshu

UB-25
Dachangshu

Inability to urinate

Dark urine

Fecal incontinence

KI-4
Dazhong
UB-33
Zhongliao
UB-56
Chengjin
LIV-3
Taichong
UB-57
Chengshan
KI-3
Taixi
REN-12
Zhongwan

KI-3
Taixi

 

Difficulty defecating

Ceaseless diarrhea and dysenteric disorder

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

NOTES:

  • This point is a gateway to Source (Yuan) Qi.
  • This is an extremely important point.
  • It is one of the most powerful points to tonify Qi and Blood and strengthen the body and mind.
  • This is a major point for reinforcing both Kidney Yin and Yang.