The Stone Pass — a firm, reliable point on the Kidney channel that clears stubborn blockages in the abdomen, supports digestion and calms the womb. When things are stuck and nothing moves, Shiguan KI-18 helps open the way.
Name & story
The name 石关 Shiguan means "Stone Pass" — a gateway blocked as if by a heavy stone. It paints a vivid picture: something solid, unyielding, standing in the way. In the body, that stone might be food that will not digest, stool that will not move, a womb that will not release, or pain that sits fixed and stubborn in the belly. The point's job is to shift that stone — to open the pass and let things flow again.
Point family & character
Shiguan KI-18 belongs to the Kidney Meridian (KI). It is a meeting point of the Kidney channel with the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) — one of a series of points running up the abdomen where the Kidney channel and the Chong Mai travel together. This dual membership gives it reach well beyond a simple local point.
Five-element dynamics
The Kidney is the deepest Water organ, the root of Yin and Yang in the body. But here on the abdomen, the Kidney channel joins forces with the Penetrating Vessel — the "Sea of Blood" — which runs through the core of the body and nourishes the uterus, the intestines and the whole middle axis. Shiguan KI-18 sits at that crossing. When the Chong Mai is disrupted — by Cold, by stagnation, by rebellion of Qi — this point can reach in and restore order, warming what is frozen and moving what is stuck.
Location
On the upper abdomen, 3 Cun above the umbilicus and 0.5 Cun lateral to the midline — level with Jianli REN-11. Note: the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion places KI-18 through KI-21 at 1.5 Cun lateral to the midline rather than 0.5 Cun — this discrepancy appears in the classical literature.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the upper abdomen, in the region of the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
Perpendicular insertion. The needle goes straight in.
Safe depth
1 to 1.5 Cun. ⚠️ Caution: deep needling may penetrate the peritoneal cavity.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxibustion is well suited to this point, particularly when Cold is the root of the blockage — cold in the abdomen, cold in the uterus, or cold-type constipation and pain. Gentle abdominal massage around the point can also help ease accumulation and move stagnant Qi.
Functions
Regulates Qi and alleviates pain; Warms and moves the intestines; Dispels accumulation and opens blockage; Harmonises the Stomach and descends rebellious Qi; Supports the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai).
Indications
Constipation, dry stools, borborygmus, diarrhoea, vomiting. Cold in the epigastrium; distension and pain of the abdomen; cutting pain of the abdomen. Shan disorder due to Cold. Pain of the epigastrium and abdomen. Irregular menstruation. Redness and pain of the eye originating at the inner canthus.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
When the belly is blocked and nothing moves, the whole person can feel trapped — irritable, heavy, unable to find ease. The Penetrating Vessel, which Shiguan KI-18 helps to regulate, runs through the very core of the body and is intimately linked to the emotional life, especially in women. By opening the "stone pass" — clearing the obstruction, warming the interior and settling rebellious Qi — the point can bring a quiet sense of relief that is felt not only in the abdomen but in the mood as well.
Point combinations
With local abdominal points for stubborn constipation and abdominal pain due to Cold accumulation. With Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai) points when there is rebellious Qi moving upward with vomiting and epigastric discomfort. Classical pairings for rhinitis with clear nasal discharge include nearby Kidney channel points such as Futonggu KI-20 alongside Hegu LI-4 and Yingxiang LI-20.
Clinical spotlight
What makes Shiguan KI-18 interesting is precisely its dual identity — a Kidney channel point on the abdomen that simultaneously belongs to the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai). This means it can address not only straightforward digestive blockage but also the deeper disruptions of the Chong Mai: rebellious Qi rising upward, Cold lodged in the uterus, or painful obstructions that have a constitutional Kidney dimension. Classical texts single it out for abdominal masses with cutting pain, and for the kind of "stone-solid" constipation that simpler points cannot shift.
The golden tip
If you feel bloated, stuck or uncomfortable in the upper belly, you can gently press or massage the point — about three fingers' width above the navel and just a little to either side of the midline. A warm compress or a hot water bottle placed over this area can also help, especially when the discomfort feels worse in the cold or is accompanied by a sensation of coldness in the abdomen. Always seek professional care for persistent pain.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.