KI21 (Yōumén, “Hidden Gate”) is an acupuncture point on the Kidney Channel Meridian. It is located on the upper abdomen, 6 cun superior to the umbilicus and 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline, level with the Ren Mai point Juque (CV14). It harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellious qi, alleviates vomiting, and relieves pain in the chest and abdomen.
On the upper abdomen, 6 cun superior to the umbilicus and 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline, level with the Ren Mai point Juque (CV14).
Oblique or perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Caution: Perpendicular or deep needling carries a risk of puncturing the liver or stomach.
Harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellious qi, alleviates vomiting, and relieves pain in the chest and abdomen.
Vomiting, poor appetite, chest fullness, chest pain, vexation and fullness, rebellious qi with coughing, frequent spitting, forgetfulness, diarrhea with pus and blood, heart and abdominal rebellious qi in women, pain in the heart and abdomen, pain that prevents coughing, cough that pulls on the shoulder, abdominal distention and rumbling, inability to eat, phlegm accumulations, acid reflux, sudden loss of voice, mental restlessness, red eyes starting from the inner canthus.
As its name 'Hidden Gate' implies, Yōumén is a key point for regulating the pyloric sphincter's function, making it essential for treating rebellious stomach qi manifesting as vomiting, nausea, and acid reflux. Its location high on the abdomen also allows it to address chest fullness and pain radiating from the middle jiao. The classical texts emphasize its role in digestive disorders, particularly when food fails to descend properly from the stomach.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 腹自幽門夾巨闕兩旁各半寸循衝脈下行至橫骨凡二十二穴第二十 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
幽門二穴，治胸中痛悶，氣逆煩滿，不嗜食，嘔吐涎沫，健忘，小腹脹，泄痢膿血，目赤痛從內眥始The text records that KI21 was used for pain and oppression in the chest, counterflow qi with vexing fullness, poor appetite, vomiting of drool and froth, forgetfulness, lower abdominal distension, diarrhoea with pus and blood, and red painful eyes from the inner canthus.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷26 · Source: Wikisource ↗
幽門在巨闕旁半寸陷中According to this text, KI21 lies in the depression 0.5 cun beside Juque.
《神灸經綸》 Shénjiǔ Jīnglún — Principles of Divine Moxibustion, Wu Yiding, 1851 · 卷之二 · 十二經脈起止 · 腎經二十七穴分寸 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
幽門（一名上門）從通谷上一寸去巨關旁各五分陷中灸五壯According to this text, KI21 (also called Shangmen) lies in a depression 1 cun above Tonggu, 0.5 cun to each side of Juque, and is moxibusted with 5 cones.
KI21 is one of 27 points on the Kidney Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
KI21 (Yōumén) is located on the upper abdomen, 6 cun superior to the umbilicus and 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline, level with the Ren Mai point Juque (CV14).
KI21 harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellious qi, alleviates vomiting, and relieves pain in the chest and abdomen. Common clinical indications include vomiting, poor appetite, chest fullness, chest pain, vexation and fullness, rebellious qi with coughing, frequent spitting, forgetfulness, diarrhea with pus and blood, heart and abdominal rebellious qi in women, pain in the heart and abdomen, pain that prevents coughing, cough that pulls on the shoulder, abdominal distention and rumbling, inability to eat, phlegm accumulations, acid reflux, sudden loss of voice, mental restlessness, red eyes starting from the inner canthus.
Oblique or perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Caution: Perpendicular or deep needling carries a risk of puncturing the liver or stomach.
KI21 is a point on the Kidney Channel Meridian (Zú Shàoyīn Shènjīng).