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KI-23 Spirit Seal

神封 〔神封〕 shén fēng

Channel: KI, foot lesser yīn (shào yīn) kidney channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the chest, in the fourth intercostal space, 2 cùn lateral to the midline.

Classical location: One cùn and six fēn above Corridor Walk (KI-22), two cùn either side of the midline. The point is found in supine posture. From The Golden Mirror of Medicine (医宗金鑑 yī zōng jīn jiàn)

Local anatomy: The 4th intercostal artery and vein. The anterior cutaneous branch of the 4th intercostal nerve; deeper, the 4th intercostal nerve.

Action: Diffuses the lung and suppresses cough; harmonizes the stomach and downbears counterflow.

Modern indications: Cough; panting; distention and fullness in the chest and rib-side; mammary welling-abscess (rǔ yōng).

Classical indications: Propping fullness in the chest and rib-side; panting; shortness of breath; cough and counterflow; retching and vomiting; no pleasure in eating.

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

Point name meaning:

This point is located in the region of the heart. The heart stores the spirit. The heart yīn directly, and the heart spirit indirectly, rely on kidney water for nourishment. This connection between the two organs accounts for the presence of the word spirit in the names of several kidney channel points in this area ( shí or líng). The character (fēng) can mean to seal, and as such is a reference to kidney water containing or sealing in the yáng nature of the spirit. (fēng) may also mean border, in which case it can be taken as a reference to the point’s location on the edge of the cardiac region. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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