中封 (Zhōngfēng) — Middle Seal
Liver channel · point 4
Traditionally used for
- Digestion
- Urinary & fluids
- Fertility & vitality
- Liver & jaundice
Location
On the anteromedial aspect of the ankle, anterior to the medial malleolus, in the depression medial to the tendon of tibialis anterior — midway between SP5 and ST41.
How to locate: Dorsiflex the ankle slightly so the tibialis anterior tendon stands out; the point is in the depression over the ankle joint between this tendon and the front of the medial malleolus, midway between SP5 and ST41.
Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.
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
Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:
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Perpendicular insertionDepth 0.3–0.5 cunskindeeper
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Oblique insertion — medially towards Shangqiu SP5 or laterally towards Jiexi ST41
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. 480 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Spreads Liver qi and clears the lower burner
- Benefits the genitals and relieves hernia
- Activates the channel and benefits the ankle
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, LV4 at the ankle balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
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1. Same Chinese namePericardium channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Pericardium channel →
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2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Large Intestine channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
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3. Interior–exterior pairGallbladder channelAnkle, Heel · Same segment, opposite sideFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Gallbladder channel →
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4. Chinese clock oppositeSmall Intestine channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Small Intestine channel →
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5. Chinese clock neighbourLung channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Lung channel →
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6. Same channelLiver channelAnkle, Heel · Same segment, opposite sideFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Liver channel →
Classical calendar method · 子午流注
When the tables open LV4
The hours Zi Wu Liu Zhu names this point at, by method. Times are the double-hour's start in UTC.
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乙亥 21:00–23:00 Na Jia Fa, 己-day sequence · Jing-River (經)
「乙亥中封內踝比」
Next: Thu 22 Oct, 21:00
A classical reference, not a recommendation: the tables say when the method opens this point, not that it is the point to needle. Open points by the hour →
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
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