The intestinal regulator of the Spleen channel. Fuai (SP-16) sits high on the abdomen, where the Spleen meets the Yin Linking vessel, and its chief gift is bringing order to a troubled gut — pain, undigested food, constipation, dysentery — especially when the underlying cause is Cold or weakness in the digestive system.
Name & story
The name 腹哀 Fuai is quietly evocative: 腹 (fù) means "abdomen" and 哀 (āi) means "sorrow" or "lament" — so the point is sometimes read as the "Abdomen's Lament", the place where the belly calls out in distress. It is a name that speaks to the kind of dull, chronic suffering the point addresses: the aching, cold, unsettled gut that has been struggling for a long time. By treating here, we answer the abdomen's call.
Point family & character
Fuai SP-16 belongs to the Spleen Meridian (SP). It is the meeting point of the Spleen channel with the Yin Linking vessel (Yinwei Mai), giving it a reach that extends beyond the Spleen channel alone and connects it to the broader network of Yin channels in the body.
Five-element dynamics
The Spleen belongs to the Earth element — it is the body's central transformer, turning food and drink into Qi and Blood (Xue) and distributing nourishment to every organ and limb. When Earth is cold, damp or weak, the intestines lose their rhythm: food passes through undigested, pain settles in, the bowels become unpredictable. Fuai SP-16, sitting high on the abdomen on the Spleen channel, works directly on this Earth function — warming, regulating and restoring order to the gut's natural movement.
Location
Find the navel, then measure 3 Cun straight upward to reach the level of Jianli REN-11, and 4 Cun outward from the midline — placing the point at the outer edge of the rectus abdominis muscle. It sits 3 Cun directly above Daheng SP-15. In some people with a narrow ribcage angle, the point may fall on or very near the costal margin; in such cases it can be located slightly more toward the midline, or needled along the costal margin.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the abdomen, at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly (straight in).
Safe depth
0.5 to 1 Cun. ⚠️ Caution: in thin patients, deep needling risks entering the peritoneal cavity. Deep needling here may also reach an enlarged spleen — check before needling.
The golden tip
If you experience chronic abdominal discomfort, cold in the belly, or irregular bowel movements, gentle clockwise massage over the upper abdomen — in the area of SP-16, roughly 4 Cun out from the midline and 3 Cun above the navel — can help stimulate Spleen Qi and ease intestinal tension. Warmth in the form of a heat pack over the abdomen is also supportive, especially when the discomfort feels cold and dull in character. Always consult a qualified practitioner for persistent symptoms.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.