Shuifen 水分
On the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 1 B-cun above the centre of the navel.
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Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Shuifen.
On this page
1Where is Shuifen?
On the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 1 B-cun above the centre of the navel.
Linea alba · Rectus abdominis muscle · Rectus abdominis muscle
2How do I find it on my body?
- Treat the distance from the xiphisternal junction to the centre of the navel as 8 B-cun. The junction is where the body of the breastbone meets the xiphoid process.
- Measure 1 B-cun up from the centre of the navel.
- Press on the front midline.
A cun is a body-scaled unit of length. The precise way is to divide a bone length into equal parts (proportional bone cun); finger widths are a quick estimate.
- xiphisternal junction
- Where the body of the breastbone meets the xiphoid process, just above the pit of the stomach. From here to the center of the navel is taken as 8 cun.
- rectus abdominis
- The long vertical muscle on each side of the middle of the belly, from the pubic bone to the rib cartilages, that bends the trunk forward. It makes the 'six-pack' blocks when tightened.
- linea alba
- A white line of tendon down the middle of the belly where the sheets of the belly muscles from both sides meet, from the bottom of the breastbone to the pubic bone. The navel lies on it.
- lower abdomen
- The belly below the navel, down to the pubic bone.
- xiphoid process
- The small pointed tip like a sword point at the very bottom of the breastbone, felt just above the pit of the stomach. It is fragile, so do not press hard.
3Before you press
- Do not press during pregnancy.
- WHO's acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (the lower abdomen in the first three months, the upper abdomen from the fourth month).
- Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
- Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
4How has it been used traditionally?
- The name means 'water divide'. It carries no special category in the classical lists.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Shuifen?
On the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 1 B-cun above the centre of the navel.
How do I find Shuifen?
Treat the distance from the xiphisternal junction to the centre of the navel as 8 B-cun. The junction is where the body of the breastbone meets the xiphoid process. Measure 1 B-cun up from the centre of the navel. Press on the front midline.
Can I press it during pregnancy?
Do not press during pregnancy.
What should I watch out for?
Do not press during pregnancy. WHO's acupuncture safety guidelines (1999) note that abdominal points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (the lower abdomen in the first three months, the upper abdomen from the fourth month). Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 224
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
- Korean point names: KMCRIC standard acupoint database
- Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
- Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20
- 3D: computed on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS
Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.