CV3

Zhongji

Star

中極 (Zhōngjí) — Central Pole

Ren (Conception) channel · point 3

Not yet clinically reviewed

Front-Mu point of the BladderMeeting point of the Ren Mai with the Spleen, Liver and Kidney channels

Traditionally used for

Urinary & fluids
Menstrual & women's health
Fertility & vitality

Cautions & contraindications

Pregnancy

Location

On the lower abdomen, on the anterior midline, 4 cun below the umbilicus.

How to locate: With the patient supine, find the upper border of the pubic symphysis (5 cun below the umbilicus); the point is on the midline 1 cun above it, 4 cun below the umbilicus.

Regional anatomy: Skin and subcutaneous tissue, then the linea alba, transversalis fascia and the median umbilical fold; the bladder lies directly beneath, so the patient empties it before needling.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, front: CV3 · Lower abdomen — Fig. — CV3 · Lower abdomen After Albinus, 1747

The abdominal regions — Gray's Anatomy plate — The abdominal regions Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position on the 3D model couldn't be checked against its location text, so it is not shown. The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

Pregnancy: contraindicated

Perpendicular insertion

Depth 0.5–1 cun

skindeeper

Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy (at least before 37 weeks). Carr (2015) reviewed the trials and found no objective evidence of harm from needling these points; the prohibition is traditional, not evidence-based.

Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.

Sources (3)

Carr DJ. The safety of obstetric acupuncture: forbidden points revisited. Acupunct Med. 2015;33(5):413-419 — Identifying sources of concern and relevant outcomes Supports: pregnancy (names this point)
World Health Organization. Guidelines on basic training and safety in acupuncture. Geneva: WHO; 1999. WHO/EDM/TRM/99.1 — Section II §2.1 (Pregnancy), p. 20 Supports: pregnancy (names this region)
Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 499 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Pregnancy

Depth: 0.8–1.2 cun

Angle: Perpendicular, or angled inferiorly toward the pubis for urinary complaints

⚠ Cautions: Empty the bladder before needling. Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Functions

Regulates the bladder, resolves dampness and clears damp-heat
Regulates the uterus and menstruation
Benefits the lower burner and the genitals and dispels stagnation
Strengthens the Kidneys

Indications

Difficult, painful or frequent urinationurinary tract infection and retention of urineenuresisirregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoeavaginal discharge and uterine prolapseinfertilityimpotence and seminal emission

Clinical Notes

The Front-Mu of the Bladder and the primary abdominal point for urinary disorders — usually with SP6 and BL28.

Combinations Using This Point

Guanyuan, Zhongji and Guilai

CV4, CV3 and ST29 on the lower abdomen — clears damp-heat, supports the Kidney and regulates menstruation in urogenital and pelvic disorders.

Similar Points

Ranked by shared patterns and conditions

Sanyinjiao how are these connected? Yinlingquan how are these connected? Pangguangshu how are these connected? Sanjiaoshu how are these connected? Guanyuan how are these connected? Qiangu how are these connected?

Sources

World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)

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