Kidney MeridianKI16

Huangshu 肓兪

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Abdomen, half a B-cun to the side of the navel centre.

Crossing point of the Chong vessel and the Kidney meridian

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Huangshu — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Huangshu — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right — **Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right**
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.

Huangshu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Rectus abdominis muscle · Internal abdominal oblique muscle

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Huangshu.

On this page

Where is Huangshu?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
FAQ

1Where is Huangshu?

Abdomen, half a B-cun to the side of the navel centre.

It sits right beside Shenque (CV8); WHO files it under the upper abdomen.

Beneath the point

Rectus abdominis muscle · Internal abdominal oblique muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: skin at the level of the navel, 0.5 cun (10.4 mm) from the front midline (navel = atlas navel height, 1 horizontal cun = 20.80 mm) — level with CV8.

2How do I find it on my body?

Find the centre of the navel (Shenque).
Stay at that height, move half a B-cun to the side and press.

What is a “cun”?

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.

📖 Words explained

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.
internal abdominal oblique: The second layer of side-belly muscle, just under the external oblique. Its fibers run roughly crosswise to the external oblique, and it helps twist the trunk.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

This lies over the abdominal organs — do not press hard or deep.
For sudden, severe abdominal pain, get medical care first instead of acupressure.
Do not press abdominal points during pregnancy (a traditional caution).
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?

Classified as a crossing point of the Chong vessel and the Kidney meridian (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing) — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
Huang (肓) is the classical name for the membranes below the heart; shu means 'transport point'.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Huangshu?

Abdomen, half a B-cun to the side of the navel centre. It sits right beside Shenque (CV8); WHO files it under the upper abdomen.

How do I find Huangshu?

Find the centre of the navel (Shenque). Stay at that height, move half a B-cun to the side and press.

Can I press it during pregnancy?

Do not press abdominal points during pregnancy (a traditional caution).

What should I watch out for?

This lies over the abdominal organs — do not press hard or deep. For sudden, severe abdominal pain, get medical care first instead of acupressure. Do not press abdominal points during pregnancy (a traditional caution). Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousZhongzhu · KI15 Next →Shangqu · KI17

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 143
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Korean anatomical terms and point names: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Huangfu Mi), vol. 3
Traditional use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)

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.