A quiet but effective point on the inner thigh, Jimen (SP-11) clears Dampness and Heat from the lower body, relieves difficult urination, and eases swelling in the groin — a specialist point for conditions below the belt.
Name & story
The name 箕门 Jimen means "Winnowing Basket Gate". A winnowing basket is the wide, fan-shaped tool used to separate grain from chaff — lifting and letting the light debris blow away. The point sits high on the inner thigh, where the channel opens up like a wide gate, and its work is similar: it separates what belongs from what does not, clearing out Dampness and turbid fluids that have accumulated in the lower body, letting what is clear and useful pass freely through.
Point family & character
SP-11 belongs to the Spleen Meridian (SP), travelling along the inner thigh toward the groin. It does not carry a major classical category such as He-Sea or Xi Cleft, but its location — high on the thigh, close to the inguinal region — gives it a focused, local role in treating swelling and obstructed flow in the groin and the lower limbs.
Five-element dynamics
The Spleen is the Earth organ, and its great task is transformation and transportation — moving fluids and food essences through the body. When the Spleen's function falters, Dampness gathers and Heat can build, especially in the lower body. Jimen (SP-11) acts directly along the channel at this critical stretch of the inner thigh, helping the Spleen open the "gate" and drive out what has stagnated — Dampness, swollen lymph nodes, and obstructed urination.
Location
On the inner thigh, approximately 6 Cun above the medial end of the popliteal crease (or 6 Cun above SP-10), in the groove between the sartorius muscle and the adductor longus. A useful landmark: the point lies roughly one-third of the way up the inner thigh from the knee toward the groin. When the thigh muscles are relaxed, a shallow groove can often be felt.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the medial aspect of the thigh, over the adductor muscles — specifically between the sartorius and adductor longus muscles. The femoral artery and vein run in this region, and the femoral nerve is nearby.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly. Care is needed in this region because the femoral vessels run nearby — the needle should be placed carefully, avoiding the artery.
Safe depth
1–1.5 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle massage or acupressure along the inner thigh, working upward toward the groin, can support the point's draining action. Warm compresses may help when Cold is obstructing the channel, though where Dampness and Heat are the issue, warmth should be used sparingly.
Functions
Resolves Dampness and clears Heat in the lower burner. Promotes urination and opens water passages. Benefits the inguinal region and reduces swelling of local lymph nodes. Activates the Spleen Meridian (SP) along the thigh.
Indications
Difficulty urinating or inability to urinate (retention). Swelling and pain in the inguinal (groin) region; swollen lymph nodes in the groin. Swelling of the inner thigh or lower limb. Enuresis (involuntary urination). Pain and stiffness along the inner thigh and knee.
Point combinations
With SP-9 (Yinlingquan) — to strengthen the draining of Dampness from the lower body and promote urination. With SP-10 (Xuehai) — for conditions along the inner thigh involving Blood and fluid stagnation. With local inguinal points — for swelling and pain in the groin region.
Clinical spotlight
Jimen (SP-11) is a specialist point — not one that appears in every prescription, but quietly indispensable when the problem is localised to the inner thigh and groin. Its most classic use is for difficult or obstructed urination arising from Dampness or Damp-Heat in the lower burner, and for swollen, tender lymph nodes in the inguinal region. Because of its position high on the inner thigh between major vessels and muscles, it demands careful needling technique — but when the location is right, it directly targets the channel where blockage has occurred.
The golden tip
For a sense of heaviness or swelling in the inner thigh, gentle self-massage along the inner thigh from the knee upward toward the groin can help move Qi and fluids through the Spleen Meridian (SP). Find the point roughly midway up the inner thigh and apply steady, comfortable pressure for one to two minutes. If the area feels tender, that tenderness itself is often a sign the channel needs attention.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.