Location

on the midline of the lower abdomen, 1.5 cun below the umbilicus, and 3.5 cun above the pubic symphesis (pubic bone). (A cun is the distance between the 2nd and 3rd knuckles or the distance at the widest part of the thumb).

Needling

perpendicular insertion aprox 1.0 inch. Use caution when needling extremely thin patients.

Moxa is OK

Actions

Tonifies Qi
Promotes Yuan or Original Qi
Tonifies the Kidneys
Fortifies Yang
Regulates Qi and harmonizes the blood

Indications

abdominal pain, bed wetting, nocturnal emissions, impotence, hernia, edema, diarrhea, dysentery, uterine bleeding, irregular menstruation, painful menstruation, morbid leucorrhoea, post partem hemorrhage, constipation, asthma.

Commentary:

The main action of Qihai is to strongly fortify Yuan or Original Qi, which is stored in the Kidneys. In TCM theory, the Kidneys are considered to be the origin of all the Qi in the body and sometimes called the 'Mother of all the organs.'

Because of its action of strongly fortifying Qi, Qihai is recommended for all disharmonies involving Qi deficiency no matter where they occur in the body.

In fact, so strong is its effect, that sudden collapse into unconsciousness can be treated effectively by strongly stimulating this point either by needling or with Moxa when extreme cold is involved.

It has a particular effect on disorders of the lower intestinal tract including gynecological disorders, impotence, urinary disorders and sexual disorders.

Qihai is known as the Lower Dantian in Qi Gong and martial arts practices. The vital energies of the body are generated and stored here. Qi Gong literally means 'Qi practice' and mastery of this point on the small heavenly circle is a necessary pre-requisite to continuing one's journey.

One of the principal practices is learning how to 'breath' through this point.

Qihai connects one with earthly energies which serve to anchor the student to the earth, so that one can begin the journey to Heaven without fear of floating away. At the same time one is connected with the world of Spirit as well as one's ancestors, as Yuan Qi is also called pre-heavenly Qi; that is the Qi that is brought through with us into this world. Each of us has a set amount of Yuan Qi, the result of the contributions of Mother and Father, which cannot be added to, but which depletes over one's life. When Yuan Qi is all used up, death of the body occurs.

This is why Kidney disharmonies are always a deficiency and never an excess.

Interestingly, there are some Qi Gong practices that apparently can add to one's store of Yuan Qi thus extending one's life.