KI4 (Dazhong, “Great Bell”) is the Luo-Connecting point of the Kidney Meridian point of the Kidney Channel Meridian. It is located on the medial aspect of the ankle, in the depression on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon, 0.5 cun inferior and slightly posterior to Taixi (KI3). It is located on the calcaneus, posterior to the talus. It tonifies the Kidney and strengthens the lower back, regulates the intestines, calms the spirit (Shen), clears deficiency heat, benefits the throat and moistens dryness, resolves damp-heat in the lower jiao.
On the medial aspect of the ankle, in the depression on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon, 0.5 cun inferior and slightly posterior to Taixi (KI3). It is located on the calcaneus, posterior to the talus.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
Tonifies the Kidney and strengthens the lower back, regulates the intestines, calms the spirit (Shen), clears deficiency heat, benefits the throat and moistens dryness, resolves damp-heat in the lower jiao.
Abdominal fullness, abdominal distention, shortness of breath, difficult breathing, constipation, difficult defecation, urinary retention, urinary blockage, difficult urination, dribbling urination (qi lin), vomiting, vomiting with much cold, vexation and fullness of the heart with vomiting, coughing up blood, spitting blood, sore throat, dry tongue, food stuck in the throat, difficulty swallowing, fright and fear, unhappiness, desire to be alone, lassitude, lack of strength, lower back pain, stiffness and pain of the lumbar spine, malaria with more cold than heat, dementia.
As the Luo-Connecting point of the Kidney channel, Dazhong is pivotal for treating conditions involving both the Kidney and its paired Bladder channel, particularly urinary issues like retention or dribbling. It addresses both deficiency (lower back pain, fear, desire to be alone) and excess (constipation, urinary blockage) patterns. Its pathway to the throat and tongue makes it a key distal point for chronic sore throat, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing due to Kidney yin deficiency.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫宗金鑑·刺灸心法要訣》 Yīzōng Jīnjiàn · Cìjiǔ Xīnfǎ Yàojué — Golden Mirror of Medicine: Essential Teachings on Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wu Qian et al., 1742 · 卷一 · 十二經表裡原絡總歌 · 膀胱經表裡原絡穴主治歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
腎經里之絡穴大鐘，二穴應刺之證即：目胞脫陷淚出，頭項疼痛，臍突、大腹、少腹脹痛，按之其尿難出，而溲血膿The text records KI4 as the luo (connecting) point of the kidney channel and says it should be needled for sunken eyelids with tearing, head and neck pain, a protruding navel, an enlarged abdomen, lower abdominal distending pain where pressure makes urine hard to pass, and urine with blood and pus.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
大鍾 足跟後踵中，大骨上兩筋間，足少陰絡，別走太陽。 銅人灸三壯，針二分， 留七呼，素註，留三呼According to this text, KI4 lies behind the heel, above the large bone between two tendons; it is the foot shaoyin luo point branching to the taiyang. The Tongren gives 3 moxa cones and needling 0.2 cun retained 7 breaths; the Suwen commentary says 3 breaths.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
大钟太溪下五分。 针二分，灸三壮。 主实则小便淋闭，洒洒腰脊强痛，大便闭涩，嗜卧口中热The text records that KI4, 0.5 cun below Taixi, was needled 0.2 cun with 3 moxa cones; in excess patterns it was used for dribbling or blocked urination, shivering with stiff painful lower back, constipation, somnolence and heat in the mouth.
KI4 is one of 27 points on the Kidney Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
KI4 (Dazhong) is located on the medial aspect of the ankle, in the depression on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon, 0.5 cun inferior and slightly posterior to Taixi (KI3). It is located on the calcaneus, posterior to the talus.
KI4 tonifies the Kidney and strengthens the lower back, regulates the intestines, calms the spirit (Shen), clears deficiency heat, benefits the throat and moistens dryness, resolves damp-heat in the lower jiao. Common clinical indications include abdominal fullness, abdominal distention, shortness of breath, difficult breathing, constipation, difficult defecation, urinary retention, urinary blockage, difficult urination, dribbling urination (qi lin), vomiting, vomiting with much cold, vexation and fullness of the heart with vomiting, coughing up blood, spitting blood, sore throat, dry tongue, food stuck in the throat, difficulty swallowing, fright and fear, unhappiness, desire to be alone, lassitude, lack of strength, lower back pain, stiffness and pain of the lumbar spine, malaria with more cold than heat, dementia.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
KI4 is a point on the Kidney Channel Meridian (Zú Shàoyīn Shènjīng).