Acupuncture II Points of the Kidney and Urinary Bladder Channels

Kidney Channel Pathway

The kidney channel starts on the sole of the foot and runs up the posterior inner aspect of the lower leg to the knee, then up the abdomen lateral to the Ren channel.
In the chest, it runs outwards from 0.5 Chen to 2 Chen, terminating at Kidney 27 below the clavicle.

Kidney 1 (KI 1)

Location: On the sole of the foot, between the second and third metatarsal bones, approximately one-third of the distance between the base of the second toe and the heel.
Find the depression created when plantar flexing the foot (pointing the foot downwards).
Palpate between the second and third metatarsals to find the depression.

Kidney 2 (KI 2)

Location: On the medial aspect of the foot, inferior to the navicular tuberosity (a bulge on the navicular bone).
Palpate to find the navicular tuberosity and locate the point just inferior to it in the depression.
Close proximity to Spleen 4, which is anterior and inferior to the base of the first metatarsal.

Kidney 3 (KI 3)

Location: Posterior to the prominence of the medial malleolus (ankle bone) in the depression between the malleolus and the Achilles tendon.
Similar to UB 60.
Midway between the prominence and the Achilles tendon.

Kidney 4, 5, and 6 (KI 4, KI 5, KI 6)

These points form a circle around the ankle.
Kidney 3 to Kidney 5 is approximately one Chen distance.
Kidney 4 is midway between Kidney 3 and 5, slightly posterior towards the calcaneus tendon.
Kidney 6 is one Chen inferior to Kidney 5, in the space between the medial ligaments connecting the ankle bone.

Kidney Point Natures

Kidney 1: Jing-Well point of the kidney channel.
Kidney 2: Ying-Spring point of the channel.
Kidney 3: Shu-Stream and Yuan-Primary point of the kidney channel (yin channel).
Kidney 4: Luo-Connecting point for the kidney channel.
Kidney 5: Xi-Cleft point of the kidney channel.
Kidney 6: Confluent point of Yin Qiao; paired with Lung 7 (confluent of Ren).

Kidney 7 and 8 (KI 7, KI 8)

Located using the 15 Chen measurement from the popliteal crease to the medial malleolus.
Both are two Chen superior to Kidney 3.
Kidney 7 is directly superior to Kidney 3.
Kidney 8 is 0.5 Chen anterior to Kidney 7.

Kidney Point Natures (cont.)

Kidney 7: Jing-River point for the kidney channel.
Kidney 8: Xi-Cleft point for the Yin Qiao channel (extraordinary pathway).

Kidney 9 (KI 9)

Location: Five Chen superior to Kidney 3.
Xi-Cleft point of the Yin Wei channel.

Kidney 10 (KI 10)

Location: In the popliteal crease (back of the knee), on the medial side of the popliteal fossa, between the semitendinosus and semimembranosus tendons.
The semitendinosus lies more posterior (lateral), while the semimembranosus is more medial (anterior).

Kidney Points 11-16 (KI 11 - KI 16)

Located on the lower abdomen, 0.5 Chen lateral to the midline (Ren channel).
Use chin measurements: from umbilicus to pubic symphysis is 5 chin and from umbilicus to sternocostal angle is 8 chin.
Find the edge of the rectus abdominis muscle (4 chin line) to help locate points.
- Kidney 11: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 2 (level with the pubic symphysis).
- Kidney 12: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 3 (one chin superior to the pubic symphysis).
- Kidney 13: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 4 (two chin superior to the pubic symphysis).
- Kidney 14: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 5 (three chin superior to the pubic symphysis).
- Kidney 15: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 7 (four chin superior to the pubic symphysis).
- Kidney 16: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 8 (middle of the umbilicus).

Kidney Points 11-20 - Cross Points

Kidney 11, 12, and 13 are cross points with the Chong channel.
Kidney 14 to Kidney 20 are cross points between the Kidney and Chong channels.
- The Chong channel ascends alongside the anterior aspect of the body.

Kidney Points 17-21

Kidney 17: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 10 (two chin above the umbilicus).
Kidney 18: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 11 (three chin above the umbilicus).
Kidney 19: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 12 (four chin above the umbilicus).
Kidney 20: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 13 (five chin above the umbilicus).
Kidney 21: 0.5 chin lateral to Ren 14 (six chin above the umbilicus).

Kidney Points 22-27

Located in the intercostal spaces on the chest, two Chen lateral to the midline.
Palpate to find the intercostal spaces.
Nipple line is the 4-chin line.
- Kidney 22: Two chin lateral in the fifth intercostal space.
- Kidney 23: Two chin lateral in the fourth intercostal space (level with Ren 17 and Stomach 17).
- Kidney 24: Two chin lateral in the third intercostal space.
- Kidney 25: Two chin lateral in the second intercostal space.
- Kidney 26: Two chin lateral in the first intercostal space.
- Kidney 27: Two chin lateral, just below the clavicle.

Urinary Bladder Channel Pathway

Overview

The urinary bladder channel originates at the inner canthus of the eye (UB 1).
A split pathway occurs, with one branch running down the back close to the midline and another running further laterally.
The channel continues down the back of the leg and terminates on the little toe.

Urinary Bladder 1 and 2 (UB 1 and UB 2)

UB 1: 0.1 superior to the inner canthus, near the medial border of the orbit. Crucial crossing point with Small Intestine, Stomach, Gallbladder, Triple Burner, Du, Yin Chao, and Yang Chao.
UB 2: Directly above UB 1, at the medial end of the eyebrow, usually on the supraorbital notch.

Urinary Bladder 3, 4, and 5 (UB 3, UB 4, UB 5)

Distance from the angle of the forehead to the angle of the forehead is 9 chin.
UB 3: Directly above UB 2, 0.5 chin in from the hairline.
UB 4: 1.5 chin lateral to the midline and 0.5 chin in from the hairline.
UB 5: 0.5 chin posterior to UB 4 and in line with Du 23.

Urinary Bladder 6, 7, and 8 (UB 6, UB 7, UB 8)

UB 6: 1.5 chin posterior to UB 5 and 1.5 chin lateral to the midline.
UB 7: 1.5 chin posterior to UB 6 and 1.5 chin lateral to the midline.
UB 8: 1.5 chin posterior to UB 7 and 1.5 chin lateral to the midline.

Urinary Bladder 9 and 10 (UB 9, UB 10)

These points are slightly closer to the midline compared to other UB points on the head.
UB 9: 1.3 chin lateral to Du 17, which is located just superior to the external occipital protuberance; also 1.5 chin superior to Du 16.
UB 10: 0.5 chin superior to the posterior hairline (like Du 15) and 1.3 chin lateral to the midline.

Important Measurements

Distance from the angle of the forehead to the angle of the forehead: $9 \, chin$
Midpoint: $4.5 \, chin$
One-third distance: $3 \, chin$
UB points start 0.5 chin in from the anterior hairline.

Urinary Bladder Channel on the Back

General Principles

Levels for spinous processes are crucial (C7 to L5).
Inferior border of the scapula is usually level with T7.
Height of the iliac crests is usually between L3 and L4.

Channel Pathways

Two pathways on the back located $1.5 \, chin$ and $3 \, chin$ lateral to the midline.
From the medial border of the scapula to the midline is approximately $3 \, chin$ .

Urinary Bladder 11-17 (UB 11-17)

Located $1.5 \, chin$ lateral to the midline.
UB 11: Level with T1.
UB 12: Level with T2.
UB 13: Level with T3.
UB 14: Level with T4.
UB 15: Level with T5.
UB 16: Level with T6.
UB 17: Level with T7.

Urinary Bladder 18-26 (UB 18-26)

Located $1.5 \, chin$ lateral to the midline.
Skip T8.
UB 18: Level with T9.
UB 19: Level with T10.
UB 20: Level with T11.
UB 21: Level with T12.
UB 22: Level with L1.
UB 23: Level with L2.
UB 24: Level with L3.
UB 25: Level with L4.
UB 26: Level with L5.

Urinary Bladder 27-30 (UB 27-30)

Located $1.5 \, chin$ lateral to the midline, level with the sacral foramina.
UB 27: Level with the first sacral foramina.
UB 28: Level with the second sacral foramina.
UB 29: Level with the third sacral foramina.
UB 30: Level with the fourth sacral foramina.

Urinary Bladder 31-34 (UB 31-34)

Located in each of the four sacral foramina.
Cross points between the urinary bladder and the gallbladder.

Urinary Bladder 35 (UB 35)

Located in the gluteal fold.

Urinary Bladder 41-54 (UB 41-54)

Located $3 \, chin$ lateral to the midline.
Starts at UB 41 level with T2 and continues down.
UB 53 is level with the second sacral foramina.
UB 54 is level with Du 2 at the sacral hiatus.

Urinary Bladder Point Natures

UB 11: Influential point of bone; cross point between the urinary bladder, the stomach, the triple warmer/Sanjiao, the gallbladder, and the Du channel.
UB 12: Cross point between the urinary bladder and the Du channel.
UB 13 (Feishu): Back-shu point for the lung.
UB 14 (Jueyinshu): Back-shu point for the pericardium.
UB 15 (Xinshu): Back-shu point for the heart.
UB 17 (Geshu): Influential point of blood.
UB 18 (Ganshu): Back-shu point for the liver.
UB 19 (Danshu): Back-shu point for the gallbladder.
UB 20 (Pishu): Back-shu point for the spleen.
UB 21 (Weishu): Back-shu point for the stomach.
UB 22: Back-shu point for Sanjiao (Triple Burner)
UB 23 (Shenshu): Back-shu point for the kidneys.
UB 25 (Dachangshu): Back-shu point for the large intestine.
UB 27 (Xiaochangshu): Back-shu point for the small intestine.
UB 28 (Pangguangshu): Back-shu point for the bladder.
UB 31, 32, 33, and 34: Cross points between the urinary bladder and the gallbladder.
UB 41: Cross point between the bladder and the small intestine channel.
*All other points, up to UB 52, three chin lateral, do not have any natures associated with them.

Urinary Bladder Lower Limb Points - Posterior Leg

Distance from the gluteal fold to the back of the knee: $14 \, chin$
Used for points UB 36 to UB 40.

Urinary Bladder 36 (UB 36)

Located in the middle of the gluteal fold, just below the buttock line connecting the buttock to the thigh.

Urinary Bladder 37 (UB 37)

Located $6 \, chin$ inferior to UB 36 or $8 \, chin$ superior to UB 40.

Urinary Bladder 38 (UB 38)

One chin superior to UB 39, just medial to the tendon of the biceps femoris.

Urinary Bladder 39 (UB 39)

At the lateral end of the popliteal crease, just medial to the biceps femoris tendon.
Lower He-Sea point of Sanjiao.

Urinary Bladder 40 (UB 40)

The point is also called 委中 or Weizhong in Chinese. It is located midway between the tendons on the medial and lateral aspects of the popliteal fossa (biceps femoris laterally and semitendinosus and semimembranosus medially).
He-Sea and lower He-Sea point of the urinary bladder channel.

*UB 36, 37, and 38 are no natured.

Lateral Lower Leg Points

Distance from the popliteal crease to the prominence of the lateral malleolus: $16 \, chin$

Urinary Bladder 55 (UB 55)

$2 \, chin$ directly below UB 40, between the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius muscle.

Urinary Bladder 56 (UB 56)

$5 \, chin$ below UB 40 or $3 \, chin$ below UB 55, between the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle.

Urinary Bladder 57 (UB 57)

Midway between UB 60 (at the lateral malleolus) and UB 40.
Directly below where the belly of the gastrocnemius muscle merges to form the calcaneal tendon.

Urinary Bladder 58 (UB 58)

$7 \, chin$ superior to UB 60.
Luo-connecting point, connecting to the kidney channel.

Urinary Bladder 59 (UB 59)

$3 \, chin$ superior to UB 60.
Xi-cleft point of the Yang Qiao channel.

Urinary Bladder 60 (UB 60)

In the depression between the lateral malleolus and the calcaneal tendon.
Jing-River point for the UB channel.

Foot points

Distance from the tip of the lateral malleolus to the heel: $3 \, chin$
Urinary Bladder 61: at midpoint between tip of the lateral malleolus to the heel which will be 1.5 chin from heel. Cross point between Yang Qiao and UB
Urinary Bladder 62: Confluent point of yong chao. So it opens the yong chao channel and it is paired with your s I three point, which is the confluent of Du.
Urinary Bladder 63: Sheet cleft of the u b channel and is also a cross point between the u b channel and yang way.
Urinary Bladder 64: the one prime point of the urinary bladder channel. Located on the lateral side of the foot in the depression anterior and inferior to the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal bone at the junction of red and white skin.
Urinary Bladder 65: shoestream point for the UV channel. Just, proximal and inferior to forming junction between the phalanges and the metatarsal which makes lateral side of the foot in a depression posterior and inferior to the head of the fifth metatarsal bone at the junction of red and white skin.
Urinary Bladder 66: is a Ying Spring point, and its location is on the lateral side of the foot in the depression anterior and inferior to the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint.
Urinary Bladder 67: Corner of the nail bed. The terminal point in the channel and it is our, J. C. Weld point for the UV channel. Located at the lateral border of the of the toe of the nail and the knee lower border, inferior border and where those two lines meet