CV9

Shuifen

Star

水分 (Shuǐfēn) — Water Divide

Ren (Conception) channel · point 9

Not yet clinically reviewed

Traditionally used for

Digestion
Bowel health
Urinary & fluids

Location

On the upper abdomen, on the anterior midline, 1 cun above the umbilicus.

How to locate: With the patient supine, divide the midline from the sternocostal angle to the centre of the umbilicus into 8 proportional cun (not finger widths); the point is 1 cun above the umbilicus, level with ST24.

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

Body map, front: CV9 · Upper abdomen — Fig. — CV9 · Upper 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

Perpendicular insertion

Depth 0.8–1.5 cun

skindeeper

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 (1)

Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 508 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.8–1.2 cun

Angle: Perpendicular

Moxibustion: Moxibustion is preferred over needling in frank oedema and ascites.

Functions

Regulates the water passages and reduces oedema
Separates the clear from the turbid
Harmonises the intestines and disperses accumulations

Indications

Oedema and ascitesdifficult urinationabdominal distension and borborygmusdiarrhoeavomiting

Clinical Notes

The principal Ren Mai point for fluid retention — its name marks the level where the small intestine separates fluids.

Similar Points

Shufu 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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