REN8 (Shenque, “Spirit Gateway”) is an acupuncture point on the Conception Vessel Meridian. It is located in the umbilical region, at the centre of the umbilicus. It warms the Yang and rescues collapse, warms and strengthens the Spleen and Intestines, stops diarrhoea, and benefits the original qi.
In the umbilical region, at the centre of the umbilicus.
Needling is contraindicated. Use indirect moxibustion only: on salt or on a slice of ginger (usually 5 to 15 cones), or a moxa stick for 15 to 30 minutes.
Warms the Yang and rescues collapse, warms and strengthens the Spleen and Intestines, stops diarrhoea, and benefits the original qi.
Collapse of Yang with cold limbs, faint pulse, profuse sweating or loss of consciousness (including the collapse type of windstroke); chronic or cold diarrhoea, undigested food in the stool, dysentery, periumbilical pain, borborygmus, prolapse of the rectum; oedema and abdominal distension with difficult urination; infertility from cold in the uterus.
Shenque is treated with moxibustion, never with needles. Its main role is to warm and restore the Yang: in acute collapse (cold limbs, faint pulse, profuse sweating) and in chronic cold of the Spleen and Intestines with diarrhoea. Moxibustion on salt at the umbilicus is a classical emergency method for Yang collapse and for severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《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 ↗
神闕一穴，當臍中。 是穴灸百壯，禁針According to this text, REN8 (a single point) lies in the centre of the navel; 100 moxa cones are applied there, and needling is forbidden.
《扁鵲心書》 Biǎn Què Xīnshū — Bian Que's Heart Book, Dou Cai, 1146 · 卷上 · 附：竇材灸法 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
一腸癖下血，久不止，此飲食冷物損大腸氣也，灸神闕穴三百壯The text records that intestinal 'pi' with bloody stools, long unceasing, was attributed to cold food damaging the large intestine qi, and 300 moxa cones were applied at REN8.
《神灸經綸》 Shénjiǔ Jīnglún — Principles of Divine Moxibustion, Wu Yiding, 1851 · 卷之三 · 中風灸穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
神闕 凡卒中風者此穴最佳羅天益雲中風服藥只可扶持要收全功灸火為良蓋不惟追散風邪宣通血脈其於回陽益氣之功真有莫能盡述者The text states that for sudden wind-stroke REN8 is the best point, citing Luo Tianyi that medicines can only support the patient in wind-stroke, while full recovery comes from moxibustion, which not only drives out wind evil and opens the blood vessels but also restores yang and augments qi.
REN8 is one of 24 points on the Conception Vessel Meridian. Nearby points:
REN8 (Shenque) is located in the umbilical region, at the centre of the umbilicus.
REN8 warms the Yang and rescues collapse, warms and strengthens the Spleen and Intestines, stops diarrhoea, and benefits the original qi. Common clinical indications include collapse of Yang with cold limbs, faint pulse, profuse sweating or loss of consciousness (including the collapse type of windstroke); chronic or cold diarrhoea, undigested food in the stool, dysentery, periumbilical pain, borborygmus, prolapse of the rectum; oedema and abdominal distension with difficult urination; infertility from cold in the uterus.
Needling is contraindicated. Use indirect moxibustion only: on salt or on a slice of ginger (usually 5 to 15 cones), or a moxa stick for 15 to 30 minutes. Caution: NEEDLING CONTRAINDICATED: use moxibustion only, usually on salt or ginger. Protect the skin from burns, especially in patients with reduced sensation.
REN8 is a point on the Conception Vessel Meridian (Rèn Mài).