REN19 (Zigong, “Purple Palace”) is an acupuncture point on the Conception Vessel Meridian. It is located on the anterior midline of the chest, in a depression on the sternum at the level of the 2nd intercostal space, 1.6 cun inferior to Huagai (REN20). This point is located with the patient in a supine position or with the head tilted back. It unbinds the chest, descends rebellious Qi, alleviates pain, and resolves phlegm.
On the anterior midline of the chest, in a depression on the sternum at the level of the 2nd intercostal space, 1.6 cun inferior to Huagai (REN20). This point is located with the patient in a supine position or with the head tilted back.
Transverse-oblique insertion, directed inferiorly along the sternum, 0.3-0.5 cun. Needling should be done with caution to avoid penetrating the sternum or injuring the underlying structures if there is a sternal foramen.
Unbinds the chest, descends rebellious Qi, alleviates pain, and resolves phlegm.
Chest and rib fullness and distention, pain in the chest and sternum, difficulty swallowing, vomiting and rebellion of Qi, vexation of the heart, cough with rebellious Qi, vomiting blood, spitting saliva like white glue, pain in the bones.
Zigong is a significant local point on the sternum for treating disorders of the chest, particularly those involving rebellious Lung and Stomach Qi. It is effective for conditions like coughing, wheezing, and vomiting, especially when accompanied by a sensation of fullness or pain in the chest. Its actions on descending Qi and clearing the chest make it useful for both acute and chronic respiratory and digestive complaints centered in the upper jiao.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《黃帝明堂灸經》 Huángdì Míngtáng Jiǔjīng — The Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic, Tang · 卷上 · 正人形第五 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
紫宮 一穴，在華蓋下一寸陷者中，仰而取之。 灸七壯。 主飲食不下，嘔逆煩心，上氣吐血，及唾如白膠According to this text, REN19 (a single point) lies in a depression 1 cun below Huagai, found with the head tilted back, and receives 7 moxa cones; it was used for inability to take food, vomiting with vexed heart, rising qi with vomiting blood, and spittle like white glue.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
紫宮，在華蓋下一寸六分陷者中，任脈氣所發，仰頭取之，刺入三分，灸五壯According to this text, REN19 lies in a depression 1.6 cun below Huagai, where the Ren vessel qi emerges, found with the head tilted back; it is needled 3 fen with 5 moxa cones.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 胸自天突循任脈下行至中庭凡七穴第十四 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
紫宮一穴，主胸脅支滿，胸膺骨痛，飲食不下，嘔逆上氣，煩心，咳逆吐血，唾如白膠The text records that REN19 (a single point) was used for propping fullness of chest and flanks, pain of the breastbone, inability to take food, vomiting with rising qi, vexed heart, cough with vomiting blood, and spittle like white glue.
REN19 is one of 24 points on the Conception Vessel Meridian. Nearby points:
REN19 (Zigong) is located on the anterior midline of the chest, in a depression on the sternum at the level of the 2nd intercostal space, 1.6 cun inferior to Huagai (REN20). This point is located with the patient in a supine position or with the head tilted back.
REN19 unbinds the chest, descends rebellious Qi, alleviates pain, and resolves phlegm. Common clinical indications include chest and rib fullness and distention, pain in the chest and sternum, difficulty swallowing, vomiting and rebellion of Qi, vexation of the heart, cough with rebellious Qi, vomiting blood, spitting saliva like white glue, pain in the bones.
Transverse-oblique insertion, directed inferiorly along the sternum, 0.3-0.5 cun. Needling should be done with caution to avoid penetrating the sternum or injuring the underlying structures if there is a sternal foramen. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall.
REN19 is a point on the Conception Vessel Meridian (Rèn Mài).