THE REN CHANNEL (see Diagram)

·  The Ren Channel arises from

1. the lower abdomen and emerges from the perineum.
2. It runs anteriorly to the pubic region
3. and ascends along the interior of the abdomen, passing through Guanyuan (Ren 4) and the other points along the front midline
4. to the throat.
5. Running further upward, it curves around the lips,
6. passes through the cheek and enters the infraorbital region (Chengqi, St. 1) (see Diagram)  

·  The following are the 24 points of this channel:

1. Huiyin (Ren 1)
1. Location: In the center of the perineum. It is between the anus and the scrotum in males and between the anus and the posterior labial commissure in females.
2. Indications: Pruritus vulvae, irregular menstruation, pain and swelling of the anus, retention of urine, enuresis, seminal emission, and mental disorders.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branches of the perineal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The branch of the perineal nerve.
2. Qugu (Ren 2)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, just above the symphysis pubis.
2. Indications: Seminal emission, impotence, leukorrhea, retention of urine and hernia.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branch of the inferior epigastric artery and the obturator artery.
2. Innervation: The branch of the iliohypogastric nerve.
5. Note: The distance from the center of the umbilicus to the superior border of symphsis pubis is measured as 5 cun, which serves as a standard for longitudinal measurement on the lower abdomen.
3. Zhongji (Front-Mu Point of the Urinary Bladder, Ren 3)
1. Location: On the anterior midline, 4 cun below the umbilicus, 1 cun above the upper border of symphysis pubis (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Seminal emission, enuresis, retention of urine, frequency of micturition, pain in the lower abdomen, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, prolapse of uterus, pain of the external genitalia, and pruritus vulvae.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branches of the superficial epigastric and inferior epigastric arteries and veins.
2. Innervation: The branch of the iliohypogastric nerve.
4. Guanyuan (Front-Mu Point of the Small Intestine, Ren 4)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 3 cun below the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Seminal emission, enuresis, frequency of micturition, retention of urine, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, amenorrhea, leukorrhea, uterine bleeding, proplapse or uterus, postpartum hemorrhage, hernia, lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, flaccid type of apoplexy.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8-1.2 inch. Moxibustion may be applied fairly long and frequently..
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongji (Ren 3.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous nerve of the subcostal nerve.
5. Shimen (Front-Mu Point of Sanjiao, Ren 5)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 2 cun below the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage, hernia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, retention of urine, enuresis and edema.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongji (Ren 3.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 11^th intercostal nerve.
5. Note: Ancient literature claimed that puncturing this point may cause sterility.
6. Qihai (Ren 6)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 1.5 cun below the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, postpartum hemorrhage, hernia, enuresis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, edema, and flaccid type of apoplexy.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8-1.2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy -- see Shimen (Ren 5.)
5. Note: This is one of the important points for tonification.
7. Abdomen-Yinjiao (Ren 7)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 1 cun below the umbilicus.
2. Indications: Uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, pruritus vulvae, abdominal pain around the umbilicus, hernia, and postpartum hemorrhage.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8-1.2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongji (Ren 3.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 10^th intercostal nerve.
8. Shenque (Ren 8)
1. Location: In the center of the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Flaccid type of apoplexy, borborygmus, abdominal pain, unchecked diarrhea, and prolapse or rectum.
3. Method: Puncture is contraindicated. Moxibustion is applied with large cones, 5-15 in number, or with moxa stick for 5-15 minutes.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The inferior epigastric artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 10^th intercostal nerve.
9. Shuifen (Ren 9)
1. Location: on the midline of the abdomen, 1 con above the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Borborygmus, abdominal pain, and edema.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Shenque (Ren 8.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branches of the 8^th and 9^th intercostal nerves.
5. Note: The distance between the center of the umbilicus and the sternocostal angle is measured as 8 cun, which serves as a standard for longitudinal measurement on the upper abdomen.
10. Xiawan (Ren 10)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 2 cun above the umbilicus, (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Gastric pain, abdominal distension, dysentery, borborygmus, vomiting, and stool with undigested food.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8-1.2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Shenque (Ren 8.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 8^th intercostal nerve.
11. Jianli (Ren 11)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 3 cun above the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Gastric pain, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal distension, and edema.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8-1,2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branches of the superior and inferior epigastric arteries.
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 8^th intercostal nerve.
12. Zhongwan (Front-Mu Point of the Stomach, Ren 12)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 4 cun above the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Gastric pain, abdominal distension, regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, and stool with undigested food.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 1.0-1.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The superior epigastric artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 7^th intercostal nerve.
5. Note: This is one of the Eight Influential Points dominating the fu organs.
13. Shangwan (Ren 13)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 5 cun above the umbilicus HREF="ex7.htm">(see Diagram 7.)
2. Indications: Gastric pain, regurgitation, vomiting, and epilepsy.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.8-1.2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy – see Zhongwan (Ren 12.)
14. Juque (Front-Mu Point of the Heart, Ren 14)
1. Location: On the midline of the abdomen, 6 cun above the umbilicus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Indications: Pain in the cardiac region and the chest, regurgitation, difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, mental disorders, epilepsy, and palpitation.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy – see Zhongwan (Ren 12.)
15. Jiuwei (Luo-Connecting Point, Ren 15)
1. Location: Below the xyphoid process, 7 cun above the umbilicus. Locate the point in supine position with arms uplifted (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Pain in the cardiac region and the chest, regurgitation, mental disorders and epilepsy.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely downward 0.5 inch.
4. Regional anatomy – see Zhongwan (Ren 12.)
16. Zhongting (Ren 16)
1. Location: On the midline of the sternum, level with the 5^th intercostal space.
2. Indications: Sensation of fullness in the chest, and difficulty in swallowing.
3. Method: Puncture 0.3-0.5 inch horizontally along the skin. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The perforating branches of the internal mammary artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 6^th intercostal nerve.
17. Shazhong (Mu-Front Point of the Pericardium, Ren 17)
1. Location: On the midline of the sternum, between the nipples, level with the 4^th intercostal space (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Asthma, hiccup, pain in the chest, and lactation deficiency.
3. Method: Puncture 03-0.5 inch horizontally along the skin. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongting (Ren 16.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 4^th intercostal nerve.
5. Note: This is one of the Eight Influential Points dominating Qi.
18. Yutang (Ren 18)
1. Location: On the midline of the sternum, level with the 3^rd intercostal space.
2. Indications: Cough, asthma, and pain in the chest.
3. Method: Puncture 0.3-0.5 inch horizontally along the skin. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongting (Ren 16.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 3^rd intercostal nerve.
19. Chest-Zigong (Ren 19)
1. Location: On the midline of the sternum, level with 2^nd intercostal space.
2. Indications: Cough, asthma, and pain in the chest.
3. Method: Puncture 0.3-0.5 inch horizontally along the skin. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongting (Ren 16.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 2^nd intercostal nerve.
20. Huagai (Ren 20)
1. Location: On the midline of the sternum, at the level of the 1^st intercostal space.
2. Indications: Asthma, cough, and pain in the chest.
3. Method: Puncture 0.3-0.5 inch horizontally along the skin. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongting (Ren 16.)
2. Innervation: The anterior cutaneous branch of the 1^st intercostal nerve.
21. Xuanji (Ren 21)
1. Location: On the midline of the sternum, midway between Tiantu (Ren 22) and Huagai (Ren 20.)
2. Indications: Cough, asthma and pain in the chest.
3. Method: Puncture 0.3-0.5 inch horizontally along the skin. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: See Zhongting (Ren 16)
2. Innervation: The medial supraclavicular nerve and the anterior cutaneous branch of the 1^st intercostal nerve.
22. Tiantu (Ren 22)
1. Location: In the center of the suprasternal fossa (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Cough, asthma, sudden hoarseness of voice, sore throat, and hiccup.
3. Method: Puncture 0.5-0.7 inch towards the posteroinferior aspect of the sternum. Deep puncture is not advisable. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: Superficially, the jugular arch and the branch of the inferior thyroid artery; deeper, the trachea; inferiorly, at the posterior aspect of the sternum, the inominate vein and aortic arch.
2. Innervation: The medial supraclavicular nerve.
23. Lianquan (Ren 23)
1. Location: Above the Adam’s apple in the depression at the upper border of the hyoid bone (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Swelling of the subglossal region, salivation with glossoplegia, aphasia with stiffness of tongue, sudden hoarseness of voice, and difficulty in swallowing.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch with needle directed upward.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The anterior jugular vein.
2. Innervation: the branch of the cutaneous cervical nerve, the hypoglossal nerve, and the branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.
24. Chengjiang (Ren 24)
1. Location: In the depression in the center of the mentolabial groove (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Facial paralysis, facial swelling, swelling of the gums, toothache, salivation and mental disorders.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely upward 0.2-0.3 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branches of the inferior labial artery and vein.    
2. Innervation: The branch of the facial nerve.