The midpoint of the spine, the still centre of the back. Jizhong (GV-6) regulates the digestive organs from behind, clears Dampness and Heat from the Middle Burner, and steadies the Governing Vessel at the very point where the body divides into upper and lower.
Contraindications
As with all points on the Governing Vessel along the spine, needling should be performed carefully, respecting the stated angle and depth to avoid the spinal canal. No specific contraindication beyond careful technique is cited in the classical sources.
Name & story
The name 脊中 Jizhong means simply "Middle of the Spine" — and that is exactly what it is. If you count the vertebrae from top to bottom, this point sits at the midpoint of the entire spinal column, at the level of the 11th thoracic vertebra. There is something quietly powerful about that: the Governing Vessel (Du Mai), which rises along the spine carrying Yang Qi upward through the whole body, passes right through this central hinge. The name is not poetic — it is precise, almost geometric. And yet precision itself carries meaning: the middle of the spine is the meeting place of upper and lower, the fulcrum on which the body balances.
Point family & character
GV-6 belongs to the Governing Vessel (GV, Du Mai), the great Yang channel that travels up the midline of the back and governs all Yang in the body. Jizhong sits on the back at the level of the 11th thoracic vertebra, directly behind the Spleen and Stomach, making it a back point with a strong influence on the Middle Burner.
Five-element dynamics
The Governing Vessel is pure Yang — it collects and raises Yang Qi along the spine. But GV-6 sits behind the Spleen and Stomach, the organs of the Earth element, and much of its clinical work is directed at the Middle Burner. The Spleen and Stomach are responsible for transforming food and drink into Qi and Blood (Xue); when Dampness or Heat clouds that process, digestion breaks down and the body becomes heavy and sluggish. Jizhong, sitting at the spine's exact midpoint, helps clear what has accumulated in the middle and restore the smooth flow of the Earth organs below.
Location
Find the point on the midline of the back, in the depression below the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra (T11). A useful landmark: it is roughly level with the lower border of the rib cage on the back.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the midline of the back, between the spinous processes of the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebrae, overlying the deep muscles of the back (erector spinae group).
Needling
The needle is inserted obliquely upward along the spine.
The golden tip
Mid-back tension and digestive heaviness can both benefit from gentle warmth over this area. A warm pack or hot water bottle placed at the middle of the back, around the level of the lowest ribs on the back surface, can help ease stiffness and support the Middle Burner. This is not a point that is easy to press yourself, but a partner or practitioner can apply firm, sustained thumb pressure in the depression below the 11th thoracic vertebra for a minute or two.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.