REN9 (Shuifen, “Shuifen”) is an acupuncture point on the Conception Vessel Meridian. It is located on the anterior midline of the abdomen, 1 cun superior to the center of the umbilicus. It promotes the transformation and transportation of fluids, regulates the intestines, tonifies the Spleen, and alleviates pain.
On the anterior midline of the abdomen, 1 cun superior to the center of the umbilicus.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Needling is contraindicated in pregnancy. Caution is required in thin patients to avoid penetrating the peritoneal cavity.
Promotes the transformation and transportation of fluids, regulates the intestines, tonifies the Spleen, and alleviates pain.
Water disease, ascites, edema, abdominal hardness and swelling like a drum, borborygmus, rumbling in the intestines that rushes to the heart, periumbilical pain, abdominal pain, stomach distention and hardness, inability to eat, aversion to food, intestinal and stomach vacuity distention, diarrhea with pain, spinal rigidity, lower back stiffness, nosebleed, ghost strike, pediatric sunken fontanelle.
Shuifen is a critical point for regulating water metabolism, as its name implies. Classically, it was primarily treated with moxibustion for severe edema, ascites, and abdominal distention, where it was thought to separate fluids for proper excretion. Its use also extends to digestive disorders like borborygmus, abdominal pain, and poor appetite, reflecting its influence on the intestines. The significant classical warnings against needling in cases of edema highlight the perceived power and potential danger of this point.
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 ↗
水分一穴，在下脘下一寸，臍上一寸，任脈氣所發。 針入八分，可灸七壯。 水病禁針，針即成水蠱病死According to this text, REN9 (a single point) lies 1 cun below Xiawan and 1 cun above the navel, where the Ren vessel qi emerges; it is needled 8 fen and may receive 7 moxa cones, but in water disease needling is forbidden, as it is said to lead to fatal 'water gu' disease.
《神應經》 Shényìng Jīng — Classic of Divine Response, Chen Hui, 1425 · 穴法图 · Source: Wikisource ↗
水分 在脐上一寸，水病灸之大良。 禁针，针水尽即死。 针八分，灸七壮至四百壮According to this text, REN9 lies 1 cun above the navel and moxibustion is very good for water disease; needling is forbidden there, since it is said that if the water drains out completely the patient dies, though elsewhere 8 fen needling and 7 to 400 moxa cones are given.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之一·神照集 · 任脈圖穴二十一 · 任脈所發二十四穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
水分一穴，在下脘下一寸，臍上一寸。 《針經》刺入一寸，灸五壯。 竇氏針入二寸，灸七七壯，止百壯。 一方：水脹病灸百壯大良。 禁針，針之水出盡死矣According to this text, REN9 (a single point) lies 1 cun below Xiawan and 1 cun above the navel; the Zhenjing gives 1 cun needling and 5 moxa cones, Master Dou 2 cun with 49 up to 100 cones, and one method states that 100 cones are very good for water distension; needling is forbidden, as the patient dies if the water runs out completely.
REN9 is one of 24 points on the Conception Vessel Meridian. Nearby points:
REN9 (Shuifen) is located on the anterior midline of the abdomen, 1 cun superior to the center of the umbilicus.
REN9 promotes the transformation and transportation of fluids, regulates the intestines, tonifies the Spleen, and alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include water disease, ascites, edema, abdominal hardness and swelling like a drum, borborygmus, rumbling in the intestines that rushes to the heart, periumbilical pain, abdominal pain, stomach distention and hardness, inability to eat, aversion to food, intestinal and stomach vacuity distention, diarrhea with pain, spinal rigidity, lower back stiffness, nosebleed, ghost strike, pediatric sunken fontanelle.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Needling is contraindicated in pregnancy. Caution is required in thin patients to avoid penetrating the peritoneal cavity. Caution: Multiple classical sources, including the Zi Sheng Jing and Zhen Jiu Ju Ying, contain a strong prohibition against needling this point in cases of edema or ascites ('water disease'), warning that if the 'water is drained, the patient will die'. Moxibustion is consistently presented as the preferred and safer treatment method for these conditions.
REN9 is a point on the Conception Vessel Meridian (Rèn Mài).