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Alternate names: 命关 mìng guān, Life Pass

Channel: SP, foot greater yīn (tài yīn) spleen channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the chest, in the fifth intercostal space, 6 cùn lateral to the midline.

Classical location: One cùn and six fēn below Celestial Ravine (SP-18), and six cùn from the midline of the chest. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The thoracoepigastric vein. The lateral cutaneous branch of the 5th intercostal nerve.

Action: Rectifies qì and disinhibits water; courses the triple burner.

Modern indications: Rib-side distension and pain; belching; stomach reflux; abdominal distension; water swelling.

Classical indications: Thunderous rumbling in the diaphragm region; major detriment to spleen qì; propping fullness in the chest and rib-side; postpartum abdominal distension and water swelling; urinary stoppage.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.5 cùn outward oblique insertion. Moxa: 3‒5 cones; pole 5‒20 min.

Point name meaning:

• 食 shí: food
• 窦 dòu: a hole, a drain

The spleen’s function of ruling digestion and providing the body with nourishment is reflected by a character meaning food: 食 (shí). The character 窦 (dòu) is another word for hole. We may visualize the essence of grain qì rising to the lung and passing through the diaphragm at this point, the Food Hole.

The name Food Hole may also be taken as a reference to the nipple. Thus we may associate the point name with the location of the point near the breast. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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