Verscienta
CV4

Guanyuan

Star

關元 (Guānyuán) — Origin Pass

Ren (Conception) channel · point 4

Not yet clinically reviewed

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

Traditionally used for

  • Digestion
  • Bowel health
  • Urinary & fluids
  • Menstrual & women's health
  • Fertility & vitality
  • Energy & fatigue

Cautions & contraindications

  • Pregnancy

Location

On the lower abdomen, on the anterior midline, 3 cun below the umbilicus.

How to locate: With the patient supine, divide the midline from the centre of the umbilicus to the upper border of the pubic symphysis into 5 proportional cun (an elastic tape helps; finger widths can mislead here); the point is 3 cun below the umbilicus and 2 cun above the symphysis, level with KI13 and ST28.

Regional anatomy: Skin and subcutaneous tissue, then the linea alba, transversalis and extraperitoneal fascia and the median umbilical fold; a full bladder can rise beneath this point, so it is emptied before needling.

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

Body map, front: CV4 · Lower abdomen
Fig. — CV4 · Lower abdomen After Albinus, 1747
Body map, front: CV4 · Lower abdomen

CV4 · Lower abdomen · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

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

Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:

  1. Perpendicular insertion
    Depth 0.5–1 cun
    skindeeper
  2. Oblique insertion — directed inferiorly
    Depth 1–1.5 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)
  1. 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)
  2. 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)
  3. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 501 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

  • Pregnancy
Depth: 0.8–1.5 cun
Angle: Perpendicular
Moxibustion: One of the principal points for tonifying moxibustion. Salt-partitioned or ginger-partitioned moxa at CV4 and CV8 is the classical treatment for yang collapse.
⚠ Cautions: Contraindicated in pregnancy. Empty the bladder before needling.

Functions

  • Tonifies original qi and the Kidney, benefits the essence and fortifies yang
  • Nourishes blood and yin
  • Regulates the uterus and menstruation
  • Restores collapsed yang
  • Roots the qi and benefits the lower burner
  • Expels cold and dampness from the lower burner, especially with moxa

Indications

Chronic fatigue and constitutional depletionirregular menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and infertilityimpotence, seminal emission and premature ejaculationfrequent urination and enuresischronic diarrhoeacold limbs and collapse of yanglower abdominal painprolapse

Clinical Notes

With CV6 and ST36, the foundation of tonification in the abdomen. Its name — the Gate of Origin — marks it as the place where original qi is stored.

Combinations Using This Point

Tonifying Moxibustion — CV4, CV6, ST36 and GV4

The four points that carry the classical reputation for building qi and yang — moxaed rather than needled.

Guanyuan and Qihai

CV4 and CV6 on the lower abdomen — a core tonifying pair for original qi, Kidney and essence, used in depletion, gynaecological and bowel disorders.

Guanyuan and Tianshu

CV4 with ST25 — warms the middle burner, harmonises the Stomach and regulates the intestines in bowel and digestive complaints.

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

Guanyuanshu how are these connected? (Guanyuanshu)

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.)

📝 Notes

Public notes from the community and your own private notes on CV4 Guanyuan.

No notes yet.

Log in or register to add your own notes.

Back to Points