Front-mu point of triple energizer.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Shi" (石), stone; "men" (門), door or gate. "Shimen" (石門) contains the meaning of "gate" (關). As mentioned in He Guanzi: "Two cun below the umbilicus is called 'Guan' (gate)." Xun Yue in Shenjianstates: "The 'gate' (關) is what regulates and stores breath to nourish four limbs. Therefore, those with long breath rely on the gate for respiration." Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing notes: "Regarding Dantian point, it should be located 2 cun below umbilicus."

bubble_chart Location

Shimen (CV5) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Two cun below umbilicus."

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: in linea alba of abdomen. The deep part is small intestine.
• Nerve: medial branch of anterior cutaneous branch of 11th intercostal nerve.
• Vessels: branches of superficial epigastric artery and vein, branches of inferior epigastric artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert perpendicularly 1~1.5 cun. Avoid deep insertion to prevent injury to small intestine. Bladder may also be punctured if it is full, so it is advisable to urinate before needling. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 15 to 20 minutes. Moxibustion and acupuncture are contraindicated for pregnant women.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Facilitate lower jiao.

• Classical: abdominal pain, diarrhea, lower abdominal distension, constipation, vomiting blood, coughing with fever, cold limbs, difficulty urinating, menorrhagia and metrostaxis, amenorrhea, genital itching, persistent postpartum lochiorrhea, retraction of scrotum with severe lower abdominal pain, tooth socket infection, infertility.
• Modern: enteritis, nephritis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Hard pain in lower abdomen radiating to genitals: Shimen (CV5), Shangqiu (SP5).
• Cough with excessive saliva: Yuzhong (KI26), Shimen (CV5).