The lowest point on the Conception Vessel, resting right at the pubic bone. Qugu (CV-2) reaches deep into the lower body to regulate the bladder, support the uterus and ease the most stubborn problems of urination and reproduction.
Name & story
The name 曲骨 Qugu means "Curved Bone" — a direct and honest description of where the point lives. The pubic symphysis, the curved arch of bone at the very base of the abdomen, was known in classical Chinese anatomy as the "curved bone", and the point sits right upon it, at the midline. There is something quietly poetic about this: the Conception Vessel, which governs everything to do with life, reproduction and the deepest Yin of the body, ends its lower journey at this curved threshold — the boundary between the inner world of the pelvis and the outside.
Point family & character
Qugu (CV-2) belongs to the Conception Vessel (CV), the great Yin meridian that runs up the front midline of the body. The point sits at the meeting of the Conception Vessel with the Liver Meridian (LR) — making it an intersection point of both channels. This double connection gives it a special reach: it can address both the reproductive and urinary functions governed by the Conception Vessel, and the Liver's role in moving Qi and Blood (Xue) through the lower abdomen.
Five-element dynamics
The Conception Vessel is the "Sea of Yin" — it gathers and nourishes the Yin of the whole body, and nowhere is this more concentrated than at its base. CV-2 sits at the very root of this channel, close to the Kidneys' domain and the Gate of Life. The Liver Meridian (LR), which also passes through this point, is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi in the lower burner. When these two channels meet at CV-2, the point becomes a natural meeting place for Yin nourishment and Qi movement — ideal for clearing stagnation, Dampness and Heat from the lower body, and for restoring the normal function of the bladder and reproductive organs.
Location
Find the pubic symphysis — the firm joint of bone at the very bottom of the lower abdomen, where the two sides of the pelvis meet. Qugu (CV-2) sits right on the upper edge of that bone, exactly on the midline. It is 5 Cun below the navel, and 1 Cun below its neighbour Zhongji (CV-3).
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the midline of the lower abdomen, directly on the upper border of the pubic symphysis. The skin here overlies the attachment of the linea alba to the pubic bone.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly (straight in). The bladder should be emptied before needling this point.
Safe depth
0.5–1 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa is well suited to this point, particularly when the pattern involves Cold, Yang Deficiency or chronic weakness of the lower body. Warming the point with a moxa stick can help with cold-type urinary difficulty, pale vaginal discharge and reproductive weakness.
Functions
Regulates the bladder and resolves urinary difficulty. Benefits the uterus and regulates menstruation. Drains Dampness and clears Heat from the lower burner. Moves Qi and Blood (Xue) in the lower abdomen. Warms the lower body and supports Yang when combined with Moxa.
Indications
Urinary problems: difficulty urinating, urinary retention, frequent and urgent urination, painful urination. Reproductive and gynaecological conditions: irregular menstruation, painful periods, leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge), prolapse of the uterus. In men: seminal emission, impotence, genital pain or itching. Lower abdominal pain and fullness.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
The lower abdomen in Chinese medicine is not just a physical region — it is where the Jing (essence) resides, where life itself is rooted. When chronic urinary or reproductive problems linger, they quietly drain a person's confidence, their sense of vitality and even their will. Qugu (CV-2), by restoring order in the lower burner, helps give back that quiet sense of rootedness — the feeling of being grounded in one's own body. It does not calm the Shen from above, like the heart points do, but from below: by steadying the very foundation.
Point combinations
With Zhongji (CV-3) — to strengthen the effect on the bladder and uterus, especially for urinary retention or menstrual irregularity. With CV-6 (Qihai) — to warm and tonify the lower body and support Yang when there is weakness and cold. With SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) and LR-3 (Taichong) — to move Qi and Blood (Xue) in the lower abdomen for painful periods or stagnation patterns.
Clinical spotlight
CV-2 is one of the most direct points for the lower urinary tract and female reproductive system on the entire Conception Vessel. Its position at the intersection with the Liver Meridian (LR) makes it useful for both excess patterns — Dampness, Heat, Qi Stagnation — and deficiency patterns involving Cold and Yang Deficiency, depending on whether it is needled with reducing technique or warmed with Moxa. Clinicians often choose it as a local point in combination with CV-3 and SP-6 for gynaecological complaints, and with CV-3 and BL-28 for bladder disorders.
The golden tip
Gentle self-massage of the lower abdomen — including the area around CV-2 — can help ease mild urinary discomfort and menstrual cramping. Use the palm in slow, clockwise circles over the lower belly for a few minutes. Keeping the lower abdomen warm (with a warm pack or a belly band) is especially helpful when cold tends to worsen symptoms. Always seek professional care for persistent or severe urinary or reproductive complaints.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.