Yin Qiao Mai – Yin Motility Vessel

Chinese: 陰蹻脈   English: Yin Motility Vessel

Confluent (master) point: KI-6   Couple point: LU-7

Pathway

1. Begins at KI-6 and rises to KI-8.
2. Climbs the postero-medial lower leg and thigh to the external genitalia, then up the abdomen and chest to the supraclavicular fossa.
3. Rises through the throat and surfaces in front of ST-9.
4. Runs up beside the mouth and nose to the inner canthus, meeting the Yang Qiao vessel and the Bladder channel at UB-1, then rises to enter the brain.

Points on the Vessel

KI-6, KI-8, ST-9, UB-1

Indications

• Night-time epilepsy
• Eye diseases
• Chills and fever
• Painful obstruction of the skin from Damp-Heat
• Hypogastric pain
• Internal urgency
• Genital pain
• Contracted sinews
• Shan disorder
• Uterine bleeding
• Leukorrhea
• Flaccid muscles of the lateral leg with tight muscles of the medial leg

Notes

• Pairing: KI-6 (Yin Qiao, foot) with LU-7 (Ren, hand); both marked Yin (-) in the pairing table.
• KI-6 is the confluent point of the Yin Qiao and nourishes Kidney Yin; compare KI-6 for Kidney Yin (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, add REN-4) with KI-7 for Kidney Yang (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, add DU-4).
• KI-6 + LU-7: activates Yin Qiao with Ren; also nourishes the throat and treats Kidneys failing to grasp Lung Qi.
• KI-6 + UB-62: insomnia or somnolence. KI-6 + SJ-6: constipation. KI-6 + SP-6: nourishes Yin of the whole body. KI-6 + HT-6: nourishes Heart and Kidney Yin (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan).
• KI-2 (Ying-Spring, Fire point) clears Empty-Heat; compare Zhi Mu + Huang Bai.
• KI-8 is the Xi-Cleft of the Yin Qiao; it benefits the uterus, regulates menstruation and resolves Dampness.
• Xi-Cleft points on the Kidney channel: KI-5 for the Kidney, KI-8 for the Yin Qiao, KI-9 for the Yin Wei.
• ST-12 is a crossing point of the LI, ST, SI, SJ and GB; it treats rebellious Stomach and Lung Qi and has a calming effect.
• ST-9 is a Sea of Qi point; it subdues rebellious Qi, is often used for Excess patterns and Excess above with Deficiency below, and dissipates nodules. The carotid artery lies just deep to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid, so the point sits between the artery and the thyroid cartilage.
• UB-1 joins the Yang Qiao and Yin Qiao: for insomnia reinforce KI-6 and reduce UB-62 with UB-1; for somnolence reinforce UB-62 and reduce KI-6 with UB-1.