ST-28 Shuidao - Water Path

More Spirit Names: Water Passage, Waterway

English:	Water Passage
Also Known As:	Waterway

Location

• On the lower abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the midline inferior to the umbilicus, level with REN-4 Guanyuan.
  Note: the 2 cun line is halfway between the midline and the palpable border of the rectus abdominus muscle.
• 3 cun below the navel, 2 cun lateral to REN-4 Guanyuan.

Needling

• Perpendicular insertion 1 to 1,5 cun.
  Caution: deep insertion may penetrate the peritoneal cavity in thin patients or may penetrate a full Bladder. Advise the patient to evacuate prior to treatment.
• Straight insertion 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness, possibly extending to the lower side of the abdomen on which the point is needled.
• Puncture perpendicularly 0.7 to 1.2 cun.
• Moxibustion is applicable.

Command Functions

Actions

• Regulates the Lower Jiao
• Dispels Stagnation
• Benefits the Bladder
• Benefits the uterus
• Cools Damp-Heat
• Eliminates Damp-Heat from the Lower Jiao
• Benefits urination
• Opens the water passages
• Benefits Difficult Urination Syndrome
• Stops pain

Indications

Retention of urine Retention of feces Edema Cold in the Bladder Distention and fullness of the lower abdomen Distention and pain of the lower abdomen which radiates to the vagina Shan disorder Pain of the lumbar vertebrae Pain of the shoulder and back Urinary obstruction Difficulty urinating Inability to urinate Lack of urine Yin in the uterus causing infertility Nephritis Cystitis Constipation Dysmenorrhea Clots in the uterus Leukorrhea Sterility

Hypogastric pain in women extending to the genitals Dysmenorrhea Infertility Cold in the uterus that radiates down the thigh to the knee Uterine masses Retention of dead fetus Retention of the placenta Lumbar pain accompanying menstruation Heat binding the San Jiao Ascites Hernia Orchitis Inflammation of the scrotum Pain leading to the genitals Rectal prolapse Enteritis Contracture in the shoulder and renal region of the back Painful urinary dysfunction Kidney stones lodged in the upper and lower tract

Combinations

DU-8 Jinsuo	SJ-16 Tianyou ST-12 Quepen DU-11 Shendao UB-11 Dazhu REN-22 Tiantu LI-16 Jugu	REN-9 Shuifen SP-9 Yinlingquan ST-36 Zusanli
Stiffness of the spine	Pain of the shoulder and back	Ascites
UB-23 Shenshu UB-28 Pangguangshu SP-6 Sanyinjiao
Nephritis

Contraindications

Notes

• This point is used when Excess pathogenic factors obstruct the Qi transformation function of the Bladder and Cold congealing the uterus.
• It is also specifically indicated for uterine masses.
• Shui means Water; compare the other Shui points DU-26 (Shuigou) and REN-9 (Shuifen).
• Key points for water metabolism: ST-28, REN-9, SJ-4, UB-22 and UB-39.