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CV-9 Water Divide

水分 〔水分〕 shuǐ fēn

Alternate names: 分水 fēn shuǐ, Divided Waters; 中守 zhōng shǒu, Central Guard

Channel: CV, controlling (rèn) vessel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the upper abdomen, 1 cùn superior to the umbilicus on the midline.

Classical location: Directly above Spirit Gate (CV-8), one cùn above the navel. From The Golden Mirror of Medicine (医宗金鑑 yī zōng jīn jiàn)

Local anatomy: See CV-8.

Action: Moves spleen-earth and disinhibits water-damp.

Modern indications: Abdominal pain; diarrhea; prolapse of the rectum; water swelling; vacuity desertion.

Classical indications: Stomach reflux food vomiting; throughflux diarrhea (dòng xiè); tetany; cholera cramps; prolapse of the rectum; inhibited defecation and urination; nonclosure of the fontanels.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5‒1.0 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 5‒7 cones; pole 10‒20 min.

Warning: In older texts, needling of this point is contraindicated in cases of swelling and distension (use moxa).

Point name meaning:

This point is located in the region of the lower opening of the small intestine, which functions in separating the clear and the turbid, drawing off fluid from the food in the digestive tract and sending it to the bladder, leaving the solid waste to be conveyed to the large intestine. CV-9 is used to treat water swelling. For both of these reasons, CV-9 is called Divided Waters. Its clinical functions also explain the alternate names. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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