Acupuncture II - Kidney Channel Notes

Kidney Channel

The kidney channel is discussed after finishing the urinary bladder (UB) channel.
The course syllabus is reviewed for upcoming in-person dates and the midterm date.
Kidney channel will be covered, followed by a review of UB.
A full review of all material is scheduled before the midterm on June 17.

Review of Acupuncture 1 Material

A review of the first three weeks of material, reintroducing the natures, is conducted.
Connection to current learning is discussed.
The combination of new information facilitates understanding.
The nature is repeated in Accupuncture 3 with more detail on extraordinary channels.
Material is constantly reviewed.

Kidney Channel Pathway

The kidney channel begins where urinary bladder ends (tip of the little toe).
The kidney channel is a continuation of the urinary bladder pathway.
Small intestine connects to UB at the inner canthus.
Where one channel ends, the next starts, creating a cyclical flow.
Twenty-four-hour continuous cycle is emphasized.
The kidney is a Shao Yin pathway, similar to the heart.
Distribution is on the inner posterior aspect of the lower limb (foot pathway).
The lowest channel to reach is the sole of the foot.
It Ascends up into the chest and thorax region.
The channel before kidney is UB; the channel after is the pericardium.

Kidney Channel Course

Originates from UB 67 at the tip of the little toe.
Goes to the sole of the foot.
Comes up the inner medial aspect of the foot.
Goes around the ankle.
Ascends the inner aspect of the leg to the knee.
Enters the perineum and meets with Ren 1.
A deep branch enters the sacrum and lumbar vertebra, connecting to the kidney and bladder.
Re-emerges anteriorly at the pubic symphysis, lateral to the Ren channel's midline.
Extends along the abdomen from inner (.5 cun) to outer (2 cun) up to Kidney 27 near the clavicle.
The deep branch connects to the liver, diaphragm, lung, heart, and pericardium.
It Connects to Ren 17 (front Mu of pericardium) and influential Qi.
Terminates at the root of the tongue.
The Kidney is the origin of essence and connects with many organs.
It controls and supports various areas.
Word-by-word breakdown of the kidney primary channel:
- Begins beneath the little toe.
- Crosses the sole of the foot to Kidney 1.
- Emerges at Kidney 2 (anterior and inferior to the navicular tuberosity).
- Travels posterior to the medial malleolus at Kidney 3.
- Ascends again through the medial malleolus with Kidney 6.
- Ascends along the medial aspect of the leg and crosses posteriorly at Spleen 6 (Three Yin Crossing).
  - Spleen 6 is where the spleen, liver, and kidney channels cross.
- Continues up the leg to the popliteal fossa (Kidney 10).
- Along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh to the tip of the coccyx, intersecting with Du 1 in the perineal area.
- Deeper branches:
  - Thread through the spine.
  - Enter the kidneys (pertaining organ).
  - Connect to the bladder (anteriorly, exteriorly related organ).
  - Emerge at the pubic symphysis.
  - Continue upwards $.5$ cun lateral to the midline.
  - Connect with Ren 3, Ren 4, and Ren 7.
- One branch emerges from the kidney and ascends through the liver and diaphragm.
- Enters the lung and ascends through the throat to terminate at the root of the tongue.
- Another branch separates in the lung and joins the heart and disperses into the chest to link with the pericardium channel.
- Connects to Ren 17.

Measurements

Abdomen: $.5 $cun from the midline.</li> <li>Chest:$ 2$$ cun lateral with midline to the tip of the acromion.

Luo-Connecting Pathway

Luo-Connecting point: Kidney 4 (midway between Kidney 3 and Kidney 5).
Encircles the heel and connects with the bladder channel on the lateral aspect.
Descends along the kidney primary channel to a point below the pericardium.
Spreads into the lumbar vertebra.

Divergent Pathway

Separates from the kidney channel around the popliteal fossa.
Intersects with the bladder divergent channel on the thigh.
Ascends to connect to the kidneys (pertaining organ).
Crosses the girdling vessel.
Ascends to the root of the tongue.
Emerges at the nape of the neck.
Re-connects to the bladder primary channel.

Sinew Pathway

Begins beneath the little toe.
Joins the spleen sinew channel on the inferior aspect of the medial malleolus.
Binds in the heel area and overlaps/converges with the bladder sinew channel.
Ascends and binds at the medial condyle of the tibia, connecting to the femur.
Joins the spleen sinew channel on the inner aspect of the thigh.
Binds at the genitals.
Travels internally to the spinal vertebra, ascending the inner aspect of the spine to the nape of the neck.
Binds at the occipital bone and converges with the bladder sinew pathway.

Symptoms:

Cramping at the bottom of the foot.
Cramping along the course of the channel.
Convulsion and spasm (e.g., epilepsy).
Disease on the exterior: Inability to bend forward.
Disease more internal: Can't extend the spine.

Channel Connections

Pertinent Organ: Kidneys.
Anteriorly/Exteriorly Related Organ: Bladder.
Connects to: Liver, lung, heart, and pericardium channel.

Crossing Points

Spleen 6 (Three Yin Crossing).
Du 1 (around the coccyx).
Ren 3, Ren 4, and Ren 7 (lower abdomen).
Ren 17 (chest region).

Channel Information

Total Points: 27.
Runs on the anterior aspect of the body.
The lowest residing pathway (starts at the sole of the foot).
Everything originates from the origin of the kidney.

Kidney Bladder Relationship

Anteriorly, exteriorly related.
Strengthened in many ways:
- Interior pathway goes to the bladder foot.
- The Luo connects to the bladder channel.
- The Divergent intersects the bladder channel on the thigh, and the kidney sinew overlaps and interacts with the bladder.
- The Divergent also reconnects to the bladder channel in the nape of the neck.

Important Points

Intersect with conception vessel at Ren 3 and Ren 4.
Primary channel sends through the liver, diaphragm, lung, and heart.
Sensitive to the throat and connects to the root of the tongue (both primary and divergent).
The primary goes through the lower portion of the spine, the lo goes into the spine, and the sinew also spreads into the spine.
The kidney sinew ascends to the genitals, and the primary goes to Du 1 in the perineum.

Kidney Functions

Stores essence.
Involved in growth, reproduction, and development.
Produces the marrow that helps fill the brain.
Dominates water.
Controls reception of qi (lung sends it down, kidneys grasp it).
Opens to the ears.
Dominates the two lower orifices (anus and urethra).
The lowest zong organ and the root of original yin and yang.
Conserves and controls Mingmen fire.
Houses the will (zhi).
Foundation of conception and penetrating vessels (Chong and Ren).

Clinical Applications

Can root pathologically ascending heat, qi, yang, and wind.
Helps nourish yin and therefore clear deficiency heat (e.g., night sweating).
Kidney and liver are connected; kidney points can nourish the liver.
Nourishing kidney water can balance excessive heart fire (controlling cycle).
Roots the qi and harmonizes the relationship between kidneys and lung (reception of qi).
Can help tonify kidney yang to strengthen the kidneys.
Benefits the teeth (control over marrow and bone).
Benefits the ears (tinnitus and deafness).
Helps to regulate the conception vessel, treating diseases of the uterus.
Helps with draining damp heat in the lower jaw, regulating the function of the bladder and intestines.
Nourishing kidney yin can treat dryness and constipation.

Kidney Yin vs. Kidney Yang

Kidney Yin: Fluids, blood, body fluids, nourishment.
Kidney Yang: Energy for transformation, daytime, Mingmen fire.
Kidney Yin Deficiency: Deficiency heat, night sweats.
Kidney Yang Deficiency: Coldness in the body, edema, profuse urination.

Kidney Channel Points

Kidney 1 (Yongquan - Gushing Spring)

Location: Sole of the foot, between the second and third metatarsal bones, one-third the distance from heel to toes.
Nature: Jing-Well point, wood point.
Needling: Perpendicular, up to 0.5 cun.
Actions: Tonifies yin, clears heat, subdues wind, empties heat, calms the mind.
Indications: Headache, blurred vision, dizziness, sore throat, painful urination, convulsions, fever, loss of consciousness, anxiety.

Kidney 2 (Rangu - Blazing Valley)

Location: Anterior and inferior to the navicular tuberosity on the medial aspect of the foot.
Nature: Ying-Spring point, fire point.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: Clears empty heat, regulates the kidney, benefits the lower jaw, cools blood, invigorates the Yin Qiao channel.
Indications: Dry throat, spontaneous sweating, night sweating, asthma, impotence, infertility.

Kidney 3 (Taixi - Supreme Stream)

Location: Midway between the medial malleolus and Achilles tendon, level with the prominence of the medial malleolus.
Nature: Shu-Stream point, Yuan-Source point, earth point.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: Nourishes kidney yin, clears empty heat, tonifies kidney yang, anchors qi, benefits the lungs, strengthens the back.
Indications: Headache, dizziness, tinnitus, toothache, sore throat, insomnia, impotence, lumbar pain.

Kidney 4 (Dazhong - Great Bell)

Location: Midway between Kidney 3 and Kidney 5, posterior and inferior to the medial malleolus.
Nature: Luo-Connecting point.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: Tonifies kidney, strengthens the back, anchors qi, benefits the lungs, benefits bowel movement and urination.
Indications: Chronic back pain, coughing up blood, dyspnea, asthma, constipation, urination problems, palpitations, dementia.

Kidney 5 (Shuiquan - Water Spring)

Location: One cun inferior to Kidney 3, anterior and superior to the medial side of the calcaneus tuberosity.
Nature: Xi-Cleft point of the kidney.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: Regulates the Chong and Ren channels, benefits menstruation, benefits urination, stops abdominal pain.
Indications: Amenorrhea, cystitis, painful urination.

Kidney 6 (Zhaohai - Shining Sea)

Location: One cun below the prominence of the medial malleolus, in the groove formed by two ligamentous bundles.
Nature: Confluent point for Yin Qiao.
Needling: Perpendicular, slightly angled upwards, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: Nourishes yin, moistens dryness, benefits the throat, benefits the eyes, calms the mind, cools the blood, regulates the Yin Qiao channel, promotes function of the uterus, opens the chest, and regulates the lower jiao.
Indications: Kidney 6 has a good number of functions. It nourishes yin moist and dryness, benefits the throat, benefits the eyes, calms the mind, cools the blood, regulates the yin chow channel, promotes function of the uterus, opens the chest, and regulates the lower jowl.

Kidney 7 (Fuliu - Returning Current)

Location: Two cun superior to Kidney 3 on the anterior border of the calcaneal tendon.
Nature: Jing-River point, metal point.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: Tonifies kidney yang, resolves dampness, eliminates edema, strengthens the lower back, and regulates sweating.
Indications: Kidney 7 is really good at tonifying kidney young, helping resolve dampness and eliminating edema, strengthening the lower back, and regulating sweating.

Kidney 8 (Jiaoxin - Exchange Belief)

Location: Two cun superior to Kidney 3 and 0.5 cun anterior to Kidney 7.
Nature: Xi-Cleft point for Yin Qiao.
Needling: Perpendicular, up to 0.7 cun.
Actions: Regulates Chong and Ren channels, adjusts menstruation, removes masses, stops pain, benefits the lower jiao.
Indications: Problems, irregular menstruation, bleeding of the uterus, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and prolapse of the uterus.

Kidney 9 (Zhubin - Guest House)

Location: Five cun superior to Kidney 3, on the line drawn between Kidney 3 and Kidney 10, level with Liver 5.
Nature: Xi-Cleft point for Yin Wei.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-0.7 cun.
Actions: Tonifies yin, calms the mind, resolves phlegm, opens the chest, regulates the Yin Wei channel, regulates qi, and alleviates pain.
Kidney 9 is seen to help tonify yin, calm the mind, resolve phlegm, open the chest, regulate the yin way channel, which kinda comes up into the chest area, regulate qi, and alleviate pain.
Indications: Deep anxiety, mental restlessness, mania, depression, vomiting of frothy saliva.

Kidney 10 (Yingu - Yin Valley)

Location: Medial side of the popliteal fossa, between the tendons of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles.
Nature: He-Sea point, water point.
Needling: Perpendicular, up to 1 cun.
Actions: Expels dampness from the lower jiao, tonifies kidney yin.
Indications: Difficulty and pain with urination, pain in genitals, itching of the scrotum.

Kidney 11 (Henggu - Pubic Bone)

Location: Superior border of the pubic symphysis, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Tonifies kidney, strengthens yang, clears damp heat.
Indications: Seminal emission, impotence, painful urinary dysfunction.

Kidney 12 (Dahe - Great Luminance)

Location: One cun superior to Kidney 11, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Tonifies the kidney, astringent the essence.
Indications: Pain in the genitals, retraction of the penis, impotence, seminal emission.

Kidney 13 (Qixue - Qi Cave)

Location: Two cun superior to Kidney 11, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Benefits the Chong and Ren channels, regulates the lower jiao.
Indications: Menstrual dysfunctions, infertility, difficulty with urination.
Indications: More random, lower orifices, women's healthcare
Clinical note: Runny piglet qi

Kidney 14 (Siman - Four Fullness)

Location: Three cun superior to Kidney 11, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Regulates qi and blood, moves stasis, benefits the lower jiao, alleviates pain.
Indications: Irregular menstruation, Uterine Bleeding, water in intestine
Clinical note: dysentery, diarrhea

Kidney 15 (Zhongzhu - Middle Flow)

Location: Four cun superior to Kidney 11, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Regulates menstruation, benefits the intestines.
Indications: Back pain, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea.

Kidney 16 (Huangshu - Vital Shu)

Location: Level with the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Regulates qi, alleviates pain, regulates and warms the large intestine.
Indications: Pain and distension around the abdomen and umbilicus, constipation, dry stool, diarrhea.

Kidney 17 (Shangqu - Crooked Bent)

Location: Two cun superior to the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Tonifies the spleen, harmonizes the stomach, removes stagnation, alleviates pain.
Indications: Spleen and digestive

Kidney 18 (Shiguan - Stone Pass)

Location: Three cun superior to the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Dispels masses, helps with stagnation, tonifies the kidney to treat infertility.
Indications: Postpartum Pain

Kidney 19 (Yindu - Yin Metropolis)

Location: Four cun superior to the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Opens the chest, lowers rebellious qi, regulates the qi, harmonizes the stomach.
Indications: With front mu of stomach (mid-jowl)

Kidney 20 (Futonggu - Abdomen Connecting Valley)

Location: Five cun superior to the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Harmonizes the middle jiao, opens the chest, resolves phlegm.
Clinical Indications: diarrhea or vomiting

Kidney 21 (Youmen - Hidden Gate) upper boarder clavicle, 0.5-1.

Location: Six cun superior to the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: Cross point with Chong channel.
Needling: Perpendicular, 0.5-1 cun.
Actions: Tonifies spleen, harmonizes stomach, lowers rebellious qi, spreads qi, benefits the chest and breasts, and alleviates pain.
Action: Can treat lung and chest conditions.

Kidney 22 (Bulang - Walking Corridor)

Location: Fifth intercostal space, two cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: N/A.
Needling: Obliquely, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: unbinding of the chest, benefits the breast, lowers rebellions of the lung, and stomach Qi.
Indications: Clinical Indication: Chest pain and breast issues

Kidney 23 (Shenfeng - Spirit Seal)

Location: Fourth intercostal space, two cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: N/A.
Needling: Obliquely, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: benefits of chest and lung. chest, benefits the breast, lowers rebellions of the lung and stomach Qi.
Clinical Indication: Chest pain and breast issues

Kidney 24 (Lingxu - Spirit Burial Ground)

Location: Third intercostal space, two cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: N/A.
Needling: Obliquely, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: to unbinds chest, benefits of the breast, and lowers rebellion
Indications: Clinical Indication: Chest pain and breast issues

Kidney 25 (Shencang - Spirit Storehouse)

Location: Second intercostal space, two cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: N/A.
Needling: Obliquely, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: unbinds chest, lower rebellious lung and stomach Qi.
Clinical Indication: Chest pain and breast issues

Kidney 26 (Yuzhong - Comfortable Chest)

Location: First intercostal space, two cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: N/A.
Needling: Obliquely, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: transforms phlem, lowers rebellious lung and stomach Qi.. helps with congested conditions in lungs or coughing.
Indications: Clinical Indication: Chest pain and breast issues. Treat Phelgm

Kidney 27 (Shufu - Shu Mansion)

Location: Depression on the lower border of the clavicle, two cun lateral to the midline.
Nature: N/A.
Needling: Obliquely, 0.3-0.5 cun.
Actions: unbind chest, alleviate cough and wheezing
Indications: Clinical Indication: Chest pain and breast issues.