Conception Vessel 15: Ren-15 Jiuwei – Dovetail

Conception Vessel 15, Ren-15, is the fifteenth acupuncture point on the Conception Vessel, one of the body’s ‘Extraordinary’ channels.

Reasons for the Name of the point?

Its location, at the base of the zyphoid process, looks like the tail of a turtledove, with the bank of ribs on either side resembling the bird’s wings. 

However, I think the Chinese may have chosen its name because the tail of the bird suggest that it is ascending, that it has a strong affect on the mind (as it does), with the wings beating downwards to push the bird upwards. Also of course, the back-end of the bird faces the stomach and abdomen, where food goes to power the flight. 

All these images suggest uses for the point.

It is also:

• The ‘luo-Connecting‘ Point or ‘Junction’ Point of the Conception Vessel
• the Source point of the 5 Yin organs (the Heart, Lung, Spleen, Kidney and Liver energy organs)

Location

1 cun down the mid-line from the sternocostal angle, or 7 cun above the centre of the umbilicus. Traditionally this is supposed to be at the tip of the zyphoid process, but in practice it isn’t, because the zyphoid process can be so long that it reaches almost to Conception Vessel 14, the next point. So the point can lie above, on or below the tip of the zyphoid process. You just have to feel for it!

I find it’s usually sore on pressure if you need to use it. When you do the right treatment, the soreness on pressure disappears. Before using it, if it’s sore, find a point on the Pericardium channel distal to P3 which, when pressed, clears the discomfort at Ren 15. The point you need could be several inches distal to P3.  Needle this point (distal to P3) in the exact direction and place that eased the discomfort. You’ll find that Ren 15 will now work better.

Needling Conception Vessel 15

Diagonally downwards, up to 1 cun. If needling below the tip of the ziphoid process, take care not to penetrate too deep, especially in thin people, in case of puncturing the peritoneal cavity. 

If the point is inferior to the tip of the zyphoid process, never needle this point obliquely upwards towards the heart.

Needle Sensation

Locally and upwards, inside the chest.

Moxa

Up to 5 cones. However, some texts forbid moxa here.

ACTIONS of Conception Vessel 15

• Clears, Calms and Strengthens the Mind and Heart
• Steadies the 5 Yin 
• Helps Descend Lung Qi and fullness in the lungs
• Regulates Digestion, the functions of the Spleen and Stomach

Clears, Calms and Strengthens the Mind and Heart

The point is one example of points for opening the orifices of the Heart, meaning it helps to clear Phlegm from the Heart. That means it helps many situations of unclear mind, including:

• Fits 
• Mania
• Crazy, foolish behaviour, singing and dancing, prancing inappropriately
• Hatred or disgust for the sound of human voices
• Manic-depression
• Mental illness
• Excessive anxiety

Physically, it helps 

• Palpitations
• Angina Pectoris
• Full, heavy sensation in the chest and heart region