Shenque (CV8)
Shenque (CV8), “Spirit Watchtower”, is a point on the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). It is point 8 of the 24 on the channel. Rescues collapsed Yang and warms the middle Jiao.
Location
At the centre of the umbilicus.
Functions according to tradition
Rescues collapsed Yang and warms the middle Jiao. Treated with moxa only, never needled.
Traditional indications
- Collapse with cold limbs
- Chronic diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal prolapse
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
Precautions
Needling is forbidden: moxibustion only, usually indirect over salt.
Points on other channels with similar indications
They share several traditional indications with this point. Comparing them helps understand why one or the other is chosen.
- BL16 Dushu (Bladder): Abdominal pain
- BL48 Yanggang (Bladder): Abdominal pain
- BL51 Huangmen (Bladder): Abdominal pain
- GV6 Jizhong (Du Mai (Governing Vessel)): Rectal prolapse
- KI17 Shangqu (Kidney): Abdominal pain
- LI8 Xialian (Large Intestine): Abdominal pain
Point profile
- Code
- CV8
- Pinyin name
- Shén Què
- Characters
- 神阙
- Translation
- Spirit Watchtower
- Meridian
- Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)
- Topics
- Emergency, Digestion, Moxa
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
