KI6

Zhaohai

Star

照海 (Zhàohǎi) — Shining Sea

Kidney channel · point 6

Not yet clinically reviewed

Confluent point of the Yin Qiao MaiPoint of origin of the Yin Qiao Mai

Traditionally used for

Eye health
Nose & throat
Bowel health
Urinary & fluids
Menstrual & women's health
Sleep
Mood & calm
Nerves & recovery

Location

On the medial side of the foot, in the depression below the medial malleolus, 1 cun below its prominence; the medial counterpart of BL62.

How to locate: From the most prominent point of the medial malleolus, slide straight down past its lower border into the small depression beneath it, about 1 cun below the prominence; a little further down, the sustentaculum tali can be felt as a small bony ledge. Turning the sole inwards often raises a skin crease at this level.

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

Body map, front: KI6 · Ankle — Fig. — KI6 · Ankle After Albinus, 1747

Bones of the foot, dorsal — Gray's Anatomy plate — Bones of the foot, dorsal Gray's Anatomy, 1918

Needling

Cited needling

Oblique insertion — directed superiorly

Depth 0.3–0.5 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. 344 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.3–0.5 cun

Angle: Perpendicular

Functions

Nourishes Kidney yin and cools deficiency heat
Benefits the throat and moistens dryness
Opens and regulates the Yin Qiao Mai
Calms the spirit and aids sleep
Regulates the lower burner and the uterus

Indications

Chronic dry, sore throat, worse in the eveninginsomniaconstipation from drynessirregular menstruation and vaginal dischargedifficult urinationepilepsy, particularly nocturnal seizureshot flushes and night sweatsdry eyes

Balance Method partners

Under Dr. Tan's six systems, KI6 at the ankle balances these channels at the regions its segment images.

1. Same Chinese name

Heart channel

Wrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Shoulder · Reversed mirror
Front of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/foot
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
Solve for the Heart channel →
2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)

Triple Energiser channel

Wrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Shoulder · Reversed mirror
Front of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/foot
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
Solve for the Triple Energiser channel →
3. Interior–exterior pair

Bladder channel

Ankle, Heel · Same segment, opposite side
Front of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/foot
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
Solve for the Bladder channel →
4. Chinese clock opposite

Large Intestine channel

Wrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Shoulder · Reversed mirror
Front of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/foot
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
Solve for the Large Intestine channel →
5. Chinese clock neighbour

Pericardium channel

Wrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Shoulder · Reversed mirror
Front of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/foot
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
Solve for the Pericardium channel →
6. Same channel

Kidney channel

Ankle, Heel · Same segment, opposite side
Front of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/foot
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
Solve for the Kidney channel →

Clinical Notes

Paired with LU7 as the Ren Mai/Yin Qiao opening combination — the standard prescription for a dry throat that worsens at night. With BL62 it forms the classical sleep-regulating pair.

Combinations Using This Point

Ren Mai Pair — LU7 and KI6

The opening pair of the Conception Vessel and Yin Qiao — for dryness of the throat and chest on a background of yin deficiency.

Similar Points

Ranked by shared patterns and conditions

Taixi how are these connected? Sanyinjiao how are these connected? Guanyuan how are these connected? Shenshu how are these connected? Shenmen how are these connected? Feishu 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.)

📝 Notes

Public notes from the community and your own private notes on KI6 Zhaohai.

No notes yet.

Back to Points