Front-mu point of stomach. Meeting point of fu-organ. Intersecting point: hand taiyang, shaoyang, foot yangming, and conception vessel.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Zhong" (中), middle; "wan" (脘), stomach or gastric cavity. This point is located near the middle of stomach, hence the name. It is also known as "Weiwan" (胃脘), meaning the same; "wei" (胃), stomach. Another name, "Taicang" (太倉), refers to stomach's function of receiving and storing food and water.

bubble_chart Location

Zhongwan (CV12) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the midline of upper abdomen, 4 cun above umbilicus, at the midpoint between xiphoid process (sternocostal junction) and umbilicus.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "1 cun below Shangwan (CV13), midway between xiphoid process and umbilicus";
• Donggong Anmo Mijue: "4 cun above umbilicus".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: in linea alba of abdomen; deep layer near pyloric part of stomach.
• Nerve: medial branch of anterior cutaneous branch of 7th and 8th intercostal nerves.
• Vessels: branches of superior epigastric artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert perpendicularly 1~1.5 cun. Avoid deep insertion to prevent injury to internal organs, especially when stomach is full or in individuals with a thin build or enlarged liver and spleen. Deep upward insertion may damage the anterior edge of liver. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 15 to 20 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Harmonize stomach, soothine middle, promote digestion.

• Classical: stomach distension, abdominal fullness, stomachache, indigestion, hiccups, vomiting, acid regurgitation, difficulty defecating, dysentery, infantile malnutrition with accumulation, summerheat damage, malaria, phlegm dizziness, phlegm-fluid retention, wheezing, jaundice, fatigue, red and white leucorrhea.
• Modern: peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, gastroptosis, gastric volvulus, intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal motility disorders, indigestion, acute pancreatitis, neurasthenia, insomnia, chronic infantile convulsion, esophagus cancer, urticaria, hepatitis, early-stage liver cirrhosis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Stomach distension: Zhongwan (CV12), Zhangmen (LR13).
• Persistent diarrhea: Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), Zhongji (CV3).
• Indigestion: Zhongwan (CV12), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
• Jaundice, limb weakness: Zhongwan (CV12), Zusanli (ST36).
• Hematochezia: Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), Sanli.
• Wheezing with difficulty walking: Zhongwan (CV12), Qimen (LR14), Shanglian (LI9).
• Stomachache: Zhongwan (CV12), Neiguan (PC6), Liangqiu (ST34).
• Acute intestinal obstruction: Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), Neiguan (PC6), Qihai (CV6) .
• Chronic infantile convulsion: Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4), Zusanli (ST36), Zhangmen (LR13) , Yintang (EX-HN3).

bubble_chart Notes

Suwen-Qixue Lun: "In the last book, it refers to the epigastrium." Wang Bing's notes: "It is also called Zhongwan (CV12)." Nan Jing is called "Taicang"; Maijing is "Zhongguan"; Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing is "Zhongwan (CV12)".