Source of Huang (肓).

bubble_chart Etymology

"Qi" (氣), qi of vitality; "hai" (海), sea. "Qihai", sea of qi. This point is located in abdomen and is considered the "sea of vitality." Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing: "Qihai is where the primordial qi of human body is generated." Because it corresponds to Shangqihai (上氣海, upper sea of qi) in chest, it is also known as Xiaqihai (下氣海, lower sea of qi).

bubble_chart Location

Qihai (CV6) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the midline of lower abdomen, 1.5 cun below umbilicus, at the midpoint between umbilicus and Guanyuan (CV4).

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "1.5 cun below umbilicus".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: in linea alba of abdomen. The deep part is small intestine; in females, it corresponds to fundus of uterus.
• Nerve: medial branch of anterior cutaneous branch of 11th intercostal nerve.
• Vessels: branches of superficial epigastric artery and vein, branches of inferior epigastric artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Perpendicular or oblique downward insertion 1 to 1.5 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid deep insertion to prevent injury to small intestine. In females, this point corresponds to fundus of uterus, so deep needling should be avoided during menstruation. Moxibustion and acupuncture are contraindicated for pregnant women.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Regulate qi, tonifying qi.

• Classical: deficiency and exhaustion of visceral qi, insufficiency of true qi, cold limbs, collapse syndrome in stroke, enuresis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, easy to startle during sleep, abdominal masses, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia and metrostaxis , leukorrhea, impotence, seminal emission.
• Modern: dysfunctional uterine bleeding, urinary retention, intestinal paralysis, gastroptosis, hiccups, rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, infertility, male sexual dysfunction.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Five types of strangury: Qihai (CV6), Xuehai (SP10).
• Leukorrhea: Qihai (CV6), Xiaochangshu (BL27).
• Dysmenorrhea: Qihai (CV6), Zhongji (CV3), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
• Collapse syndrome in stroke: Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), Shenque (CV8).