A quiet but reliable point on the abdomen where the Kidney channel meets the Penetrating vessel. Yindu (KI-19) settles the middle and lower abdomen, calms rebellious Qi, eases digestive discomfort, and supports the chest — a point that brings order when the interior is unsettled.
Name & story
The name 阴都 Yindu can be read as "Capital of Yin" or "Gathering Place of Yin". Think of a capital city — a place where things converge, where important currents meet and are organised. At this point, the deeply Yin energy of the Kidney channel meets the great Penetrating vessel, one of the most powerful streams in the body. It is a meeting place deep in the abdomen where Yin collects and is held. The name quietly tells us that something fundamental gathers here.
Point family & character
Yindu (KI-19) belongs to the Kidney channel (KI). It is a meeting point of the Kidney channel with the Penetrating vessel (Chong Mai), which gives it a broader reach than a simple local point. The Penetrating vessel is often called the "Sea of Blood" and the "Sea of the twelve channels" — so this point touches one of the deepest regulatory currents in the body.
Five-element dynamics
The Kidney channel belongs to the Water element — the deepest, most foundational element in Chinese medicine. The Penetrating vessel runs through the abdomen like a great river, carrying Qi and Blood (Xue) to nourish the organs and the uterus. Where these two streams meet at Yindu, there is a capacity to regulate what moves up and down through the centre of the body. When things rebel upward — nausea, vomiting, chest tightness — this point can help restore the natural downward flow.
Location
On the upper abdomen, 4 Cun above the umbilicus and 0.5 Cun lateral to the midline — level with Zhongwan (REN-12), just beside it.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the upper abdomen, over the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly.
Safe depth
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 Cun. Caution: deep needling, especially in thin subjects, risks puncturing the peritoneal cavity.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa is appropriate here, particularly when there is Cold in the middle or lower abdomen causing pain, borborygmus, or digestive weakness. Gentle moxibustion with a moxa stick or warm needle technique can help warm and move the Qi in this area.
Functions
Fortifies the Spleen and harmonises the Stomach; Lowers rebellious Qi and stops vomiting and nausea; Regulates the intestines and alleviates abdominal pain; Spreads Liver Qi and benefits the chest; Warms Cold in the middle Jiao.
Indications
Abdominal pain and distension; borborygmus (rumbling intestines); constipation or diarrhoea; vomiting, nausea, and counterflow Qi; fullness and pain in the chest and lateral costal region; Heart pain; coughing and dyspnoea; palpitations; sudden loss of voice; swelling beneath the tongue with difficulty speaking; malaria.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
When the Stomach and middle Jiao are in turmoil — when Qi rebels upward instead of descending — the Shen is easily disturbed. Palpitations, disorientation, even epilepsy appear among this point's classical indications, hinting at its ability to settle the interior when disorder rises to disturb the mind. By restoring the downward flow of Qi and calming the abdomen, Yindu helps create the inner quiet that the Shen needs to rest.
Point combinations
With Futonggu (KI-20) and Hegu (LI-4) and Fengmen (BL-12) and Shenting (DU-24) and Zanzhu (BL-2) and Yingxiang (LI-20) and Zhiyin (BL-67) — for rhinitis with clear nasal discharge (from the Thousand Ducat Formulas).
Clinical spotlight
Yindu (KI-19) sits at a convergence of two powerful currents — the Kidney channel and the Penetrating vessel — in the upper abdomen, which gives it a reach beyond simple local action. Its classical indications span not only digestive complaints but also chest symptoms, Heart pain, and even neurological signs such as sudden loss of voice, deviation of the mouth, and disorientation. This range reflects the Penetrating vessel's broad influence throughout the torso. Clinically, it is a useful point when abdominal and chest symptoms appear together, or when rebellious Qi needs to be calmed from a deep level.
The golden tip
If you feel uncomfortable fullness in the upper abdomen, nausea, or rumbling in the belly, you can gently press or massage the area 4 Cun above the navel, just beside the midline. A warm compress or a few minutes of gentle warmth over the upper abdomen can help when the discomfort is linked to Cold or sluggish digestion. Always seek professional care for persistent or severe symptoms.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.