Kidney Channel

Zhaohai KID-6

Chinese: 照海

Pinyin: Zhào Hǎi

Location

Approximately 1 cun below the medial malleolus tip, over the joint space between the talus and the calcaneus. 

How to locate

Palpate distally from the tip of the medial malleolus, until reaching the depression of the joint space between the talus and the calcaneus. 

Shuiquan KID-5 is at the same level as Zhaohai KID-6. It is also located between the two foot bones mentioned above. 

Main actions

  1. Nourishes the Kidney Yin and clears Empty-Heat
  2. Invigorates the Yin Stepping Vessel
  3. Regulates the Uterus and menstruation
  4. Calms the Mind
  5. Benefits the throat and eyes
  6. Benefits the Uterus and menstruation

Indications

Fear Sadness Tinnitus Dry eyes Red eyes Insomnia Epilepsy Dizziness Back pain Foot pain Dry cough Somnolence Nightmares Hemiplegia Dry throat Amenorrhea Night sweat Infertility Tight muscle Blurred vision Abdominal pain Painful period Difficult labor Floaters in eyes Hypogastric pain Genitalia itching Muscle contraction Involuntary erection Irregular menstruation Postpartum umbilical pain

Needling

0.3–0.5 cun vertically or obliquely in a proximal direction.

The needle may reach the deltoid ligament.

Commentary for Zhaohai KID-6

Zhaohai KID-6 is a very important point of the Kidney Channel with various functions. 

Most importantly, it strongly nourishes Kidney Yin and it is supposed to be the best point for this action. Patients with Kidney Yin Deficiency tends to have dizziness, tinnitus, night sweat and back pain. 

KID-6 also nourishes Body Fluids, which is a part of Yin. It moistens Dryness and clears Empty-Heat from throat and eyes. Thus it benefits the eyes and throat with symptoms such as dry eyes, blurred vision, red eyes, floaters, insomnia, somnolence as well as dry throat or cough. It also clears Heat from the  Heart, Intestines, Uterus and genitals.

This point treats skin disease as well, such as skin rush or itchiness as it clears Heat from the Blood. 

Yin Deficiency also cause disharmony in the Uterus, characterized by symptoms such as irregular periods, amenorrhoea, painful periods, infertility due to Cold in the Uterus, difficult labor and postpartum umbilical pain. 

Furthermore, it calms the Mind and eases anxiety and restlessness derived from long-term Yin Deficiency. Insomnia is one of the symptoms and it can be treated by stimulating Zhaohai KID-6, so as to carry Yin energy to the eyes and make it close. 

KID-6 is the opening point of Yin Stepping Vessel (Yin Qiao Mai), and it regulates Qi, Blood and Yin of this vessel. It carries Yin energy in forms of Body Fluids to the eyes and throat. Other typical symptoms includes itching of genitals, involuntary erection, hypogastric pain, abdominal pain, tightness and contraction of the muscles of the inner aspect of the legs, cramps of feet and hemiplegia.