The lowest point of the Kidney channel, sitting right at the pubic bone. Henggu (KI-11) anchors Kidney energy at the very base of the body — a steady, deep point for urogenital troubles, pelvic pain and the most fundamental aspects of Kidney Qi and Yin.
Name & story
The name 横骨 Henggu means "Horizontal Bone" — and that is exactly what it describes. In classical anatomy, Henggu was the old Chinese name for the pubic bone, that horizontal bony ridge at the base of the abdomen. The point sits right on its upper border, as if resting on the crossbeam of the body's lowest arch. There is something fitting about this: the Kidney channel, which governs the deepest and most fundamental energies of life, touches the earth at this very bone — the foundation of the pelvis, the seat of Jing.
Point family & character
Henggu (KI-11) belongs to the Kidney Meridian (KI). It is a meeting point of the Kidney channel with the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) — one of the most powerful of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, governing Blood (Xue) and the deepest currents of vitality. KI-11 is the very first point where the Kidney channel meets the Penetrating Vessel after it emerges at ST-30, making it a dynamic junction where Qi and Blood (Xue) can be moved with considerable force.
Five-element dynamics
The Kidneys belong to the Water element — the deepest, most Yin organ system, the root of all Yin and Yang in the body and the storehouse of Jing. Henggu (KI-11) sits at the absolute base of the Kidney channel, closest to the earth, drawing on this Water nature to nourish, moisten and regulate the Lower Jiao. Because it also connects with the Penetrating Vessel, it carries influence not only over Kidney Qi and Yin, but over the movement of Blood (Xue) through the pelvis — giving it reach into both male and female reproductive life.
Location
Henggu (KI-11) is found at the very bottom of the abdomen, on the upper border of the pubic symphysis. It sits 5 Cun below the navel, and 0.5 Cun to the side of the midline — or 0.5 Cun lateral to Ren-2.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the upper border of the pubic symphysis, in the lower abdominal region.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly.
Safe depth
0.8–1.0 Cun. ⚠️ Deep needling in this area may penetrate the peritoneal cavity — keep to the stated depth.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa can be applied to warm and support Kidney Qi and Yang in cases of Cold, incontinence or sexual weakness. Gentle Tui Na or acupressure along the lower Kidney channel line is also used to support the Lower Jiao.
Functions
Tonifies Kidney Qi and Yin; Nourishes Jing. Resolves Dampness from the Lower Jiao; Clears Heat from the Lower Jiao and Bladder. Promotes urination. Regulates Qi; Moves Qi and Blood (Xue) through the Penetrating Vessel. Dispels Damp. Promotes Stomach function.
Indications
Urogenital disorders of all kinds: difficult or painful urination, turbid or dark urine, urinary incontinence. Male sexual disorders: impotence, seminal emission. Hernia. Irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding. Pain and fullness in the lower abdomen. Abdominal distension. Backache. Tinnitus and deafness. Night sweating. Dry throat. Vomiting and diarrhoea, distended abdomen.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
The Kidneys in Chinese medicine are more than organs of water — they are the seat of willpower (Zhi), the root of courage and the will to live. When Kidney Jing is depleted or the Lower Jiao is blocked by Heat and Dampness, a person may feel not only physically drained but deeply unmotivated, fearful and cut off from their own vitality. Henggu (KI-11), by anchoring Kidney Qi at the very base and clearing what obstructs it, can help restore that quiet inner steadiness — the sense of being rooted.
Point combinations
With Ren-2 (Qugu) — for urinary difficulty, incontinence, and lower urogenital complaints, working the same anatomical level from both midline and channel. With KI-3 (Taixi) — to deepen the tonification of Kidney Yin and Jing. With ST-30 (Qichong) — to activate the Penetrating Vessel and move Qi and Blood (Xue) through the lower abdomen, useful for hernia and pelvic stagnation.
Clinical spotlight
What makes Henggu (KI-11) especially interesting is its dual identity: it is both the lowest point of the Kidney channel and the first meeting point of the Kidney channel with the Penetrating Vessel. Maciocia notes that because the Penetrating Vessel emerges at ST-30 and KI-11 is the first Kidney point to join it, this point carries an unusual capacity to move Qi and Blood (Xue) forcefully through the lower abdomen — more dynamically than one might expect from a simple tonic point. Clinically it has been valued for the full range of male genital disorders and for lower urinary complaints involving both Deficiency and Excess (Heat, Dampness). Dr. Feng noted good results for sore throat; J.C. Darrus used it for all male genital disorders — a reminder that well-placed points often reach further than their location suggests.
The golden tip
The lower abdomen — and this region in particular — responds well to warmth. In cases of Kidney weakness, cold sensation in the pelvis, or urinary difficulty without Heat signs, a warm compress or careful moxa over the lower abdomen (around Ren-2 and KI-11) for a few minutes can be soothing and supportive. Always consult a practitioner before attempting needling or strong stimulation in this sensitive area.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.