REN12 (Zhongwan, “Zhongwan”) is the Front-Mu of the Stomach point of the Conception Vessel Meridian. It is located on the anterior midline of the abdomen, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus, at the midpoint of the line connecting the xiphisternal synchondrosis and the center of the umbilicus. It harmonizes the Middle Jiao, regulates Stomach Qi, descends rebellious Qi, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, and alleviates pain. It is a primary point for all disorders of the Fu organs, especially the Stomach.
On the anterior midline of the abdomen, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus, at the midpoint of the line connecting the xiphisternal synchondrosis and the center of the umbilicus.
Perpendicular insertion 0.8 to 1.5 cun. Deep insertion carries a risk of perforating the peritoneum or stomach, especially in thin patients.
Harmonizes the Middle Jiao, regulates Stomach Qi, descends rebellious Qi, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, and alleviates pain. It is a primary point for all disorders of the Fu organs, especially the Stomach.
Abdominal distention, sudden abdominal fullness, spleen pain, inability to eat, vomiting, red and white dysentery, cold accumulation, heart pain due to Qi, moving masses below the heart (fuliang), sensation of a cup overturned below the heart, facial puffiness and sallow complexion, epidemic febrile disease with unremitting fever, warm malaria, cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, inability to control defecation, undigested food in stool, heart pain, body coldness, inability to bend forward or backward, belching, hiccups, five types of esophageal obstruction, incessant wheezing, evil strike (zhong'e), stomach cold, stomach repletion, stomach pain, difficulty with defecation, intestinal rumbling, pain that radiates to the heart, stomach deficiency.
As the Front-Mu point of the Stomach and the Influential Point of the Fu-organs, Zhongwan is a master point for all digestive disorders. It harmonizes the relationship between the Spleen and Stomach, making it essential for treating both excess and deficiency patterns of the Middle Jiao, such as epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, and poor appetite. Classical sources strongly emphasize the efficacy of moxibustion here, particularly for cold and deficient conditions causing severe pain and inability to eat. Its ability to regulate Qi makes it useful for rebellious Stomach Qi (vomiting, hiccups) and stagnant Qi (distention, pain).
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 · 卷七 · 胸腹部主病針灸要穴歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
中脘穴，主治內傷脾胃，心脾痛，瘧疾痰暈，痞滿翻胃等證。 針八分，灸七壯。 一云：二七壯至百壯。 孕子不可灸The text records that REN12 was used for internal damage to spleen and stomach, heart and spleen pain, malaria, phlegm dizziness, focal fullness and regurgitation; it is needled 8 fen with 7 cones (another view: 14 up to 100), and moxibustion is not allowed in pregnancy.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之八·陰陽臟腑部 · 穴法下 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
中脘一穴，胃之募也，在上脘下一寸五分，手太陽少陽足陽明所主任脈之會According to this text, REN12 (a single point) is the mu (alarm) point of the stomach, 1.5 cun below Shangwan, and a meeting of the hand Taiyang and Shaoyang, foot Yangming and the Ren vessel.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 腹入鳩尾循任脈下行至會陰凡十五穴第十九 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
中脘一穴，主五膈喘息不止，腹脹，中惡，脾疼翻胃，下利寒癖，心疝伏梁，面色萎黃，霍亂，泄出不知，完穀不化，心痛身寒，不可俯仰，氣塞發噎The text records that REN12 (a single point) was used for the five kinds of diaphragm blockage with unceasing panting, abdominal distension, sudden malign attack, spleen pain and regurgitation, diarrhoea with cold masses, heart 'shan' and 'hidden beam' masses, sallow complexion, cholera-like turmoil, involuntary diarrhoea with undigested food, heart pain with cold body, inability to bend, and choking from blocked qi.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷27 · Source: Wikisource ↗
又，中管、建里二穴，皆主霍亂腸鳴，腹痛脹滿，弦急上氣，針入八分，留七呼The text records that REN12 (written Zhongguan) and Jianli were both used for cholera-like sudden turmoil with borborygmus, abdominal pain and distension, tight tension and rising qi, needled 8 fen and retained seven breaths.
REN12 is one of 24 points on the Conception Vessel Meridian. Nearby points:
REN12 (Zhongwan) is located on the anterior midline of the abdomen, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus, at the midpoint of the line connecting the xiphisternal synchondrosis and the center of the umbilicus.
REN12 harmonizes the Middle Jiao, regulates Stomach Qi, descends rebellious Qi, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, and alleviates pain. It is a primary point for all disorders of the Fu organs, especially the Stomach. Common clinical indications include abdominal distention, sudden abdominal fullness, spleen pain, inability to eat, vomiting, red and white dysentery, cold accumulation, heart pain due to Qi, moving masses below the heart (fuliang), sensation of a cup overturned below the heart, facial puffiness and sallow complexion, epidemic febrile disease with unremitting fever, warm malaria, cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, inability to control defecation, undigested food in stool, heart pain, body coldness, inability to bend forward or backward, belching, hiccups, five types of esophageal obstruction, incessant wheezing, evil strike (zhong'e), stomach cold, stomach repletion, stomach pain, difficulty with defecation, intestinal rumbling, pain that radiates to the heart, stomach deficiency.
Perpendicular insertion 0.8 to 1.5 cun. Deep insertion carries a risk of perforating the peritoneum or stomach, especially in thin patients.
REN12 is a point on the Conception Vessel Meridian (Rèn Mài).