The upper gateway to the stomach. Shangwan (CV-13) sits just above the middle epigastrium and is the point to reach for when Qi is rushing upward — nausea, vomiting, belching, hiccups — and when the stomach needs to be settled and calmed.
Contraindications
As with all abdominal points, needle carefully and do not exceed the recommended depth. Deep needling in this region should be avoided.
Name & story
The name 上脘 Shangwan means "Upper Stomach Cavity" or "Upper Stomach Vessel". It is beautifully simple: shang (上) means upper, and wan (脘) refers to the stomach cavity or the hollow of the stomach. The point sits at the very top of the stomach region on the midline, right at the entrance — the upper gate — of the digestive house. If Zusanli ST-36 is the great engine room of digestion, Shangwan is the door at the top through which everything must first pass. When that door is not working smoothly — when food and Qi rebel and rush upward instead of descending — this is the point to open and settle.
Point family & character
CV-13 belongs to the Conception Vessel (CV), also known as Ren Mai — the great midline channel of Yin on the front of the body. Shangwan sits 5 Cun above the navel, midway between the navel and the xiphoid process, just one Cun above its famous neighbour Zhongwan CV-12. As a point of the Conception Vessel located in the upper stomach region, it works in close relationship with the Stomach and the Middle Burner.
Five-element dynamics
The Middle Burner — the Stomach and Spleen — belongs to the Earth element, the body's kitchen where food is transformed into Qi and Blood (Xue). Shangwan is positioned at the very top of this kitchen, at the inlet. Its natural action is to ensure Qi descends — because Stomach Qi, healthy and harmonious, should always move downward. When rebellious Qi rises instead — nausea, vomiting, hiccups, belching — Shangwan brings it back down. It harmonises the boundary between the chest above and the stomach below, making it especially useful when Heart and Stomach are both disturbed.
Location
Find the navel and the bottom of the breastbone (xiphoid process). Shangwan sits exactly 5 Cun above the navel on the midline — or equivalently, 3 Cun below the xiphoid process. It is one finger-width above Zhongwan CV-12 and one finger-width below Juque CV-14.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the midline of the upper abdomen, in the linea alba, 5 Cun above the navel. Underneath are the layers of the abdominal wall and, deeper, the stomach.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly (straight in). Some sources suggest a slight downward oblique angle may also be used along the midline.
Safe depth
1–1.5 Cun perpendicularly.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa is well suited to this point, especially when there is Cold in the Stomach causing pain, vomiting of clear fluids or a feeling of cold in the upper abdomen. Gentle massage or acupressure over the upper epigastrium is a practical home option for nausea and digestive discomfort.
Functions
Harmonises the Stomach and descends rebellious Qi; Stops nausea, vomiting, hiccups and belching; Clears Heat from the Stomach; Calms the Shen through its effect on the Heart and Stomach relationship; Regulates and opens the upper stomach cavity.
Indications
Epigastric pain in the upper stomach region; nausea and vomiting of various causes; hiccups; belching; acid regurgitation; poor appetite; a sensation of fullness or distension in the upper abdomen. Also useful when there is Heat in the Stomach causing vomiting or discomfort. Palpitations and anxiety linked to Stomach disharmony — reflecting the close anatomical and energetic relationship between the Stomach and the Heart at this level.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
In Chinese medicine, the Heart and the Stomach share a close relationship — physically and energetically — at this level of the body. When the Stomach is unsettled, especially with rebellious Qi rising, the Heart and Shen are often disturbed too: palpitations, anxiety and a restless, uneasy feeling in the chest accompany the digestive complaint. Shangwan, sitting precisely at this junction between the middle and upper regions, can address both at once — settling the Stomach so that the Shen above it can also quiet down.
Point combinations
With Zhongwan CV-12 — the classical pairing for epigastric pain, nausea and all stomach disorders; together they cover the full stomach cavity. With CV-14 (Juque) — when Heart and Stomach symptoms appear together, such as palpitations with epigastric discomfort. With CV-17 (Shanzhong) — to descend rebellious Qi from the upper body, address hiccups and belching, and open both the chest and the stomach.
Clinical spotlight
Shangwan is often overshadowed by its immediate neighbour Zhongwan CV-12, one of the most famous points in the body — but Shangwan has its own distinct character. Its position at the upper inlet of the stomach makes it particularly effective for conditions of rising or rebellious Qi: persistent vomiting, hiccups and belching that do not respond sufficiently to CV-12 alone may benefit from adding Shangwan. Its proximity to CV-14 Juque, the Mu-Front point of the Heart, also makes it a bridge point — useful clinically when gastric and cardiac or emotional symptoms present together, as they so often do.
The golden tip
For nausea, a feeling of fullness in the upper stomach, or persistent hiccups, you can find Shangwan by measuring about five finger-widths straight up from the navel on the midline. Gentle, steady circular massage here for one to two minutes can help ease the discomfort. Warmth — a warm compress or gentle heat over the upper abdomen — is especially comforting when the stomach feels cold or cramping.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.