Conception Vessel 19, Ren-19 Zigong, Purple Palace

Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott

February 21, 2020

Conception Vessel 19, Ren-19, Purple Palace, Zigong is the 19th acupuncture point on the Conception Vessel, which runs up the anterior middle of the torso between genitals and mouth.

Location of Ren-19

On the sternum mid-line, at the level of the second inter-costal space.

Needling Zigong

Transversely upwards or downwards, just under the skin. Up to 1 cun. Obtaining deqi isn’t always easy, I find.

Needle Sensation

I haven’t used this point often enough to notice whether the sensation is anything other than purely local to the point.

Moxa

Moxibustion: Up to 5 cones.

ACTIONS of Ren-19

Opens the chest: asthma, cough, fullness in the chest
Descends uprising or rebellious Qi

Although this point, together with Conception Vessel 18 and 20, each has a different name, they all do much the same, although perhaps their different names bestow important distinctions that I don’t always understand.

They are helpful where patients feel stuffy or tight-chested, or where something swallowed is causing local pain or won’t go down.

Throat swelling or pain
Fullness in the chest
Pain in the chest
Anxiety arising from chest pain

Comment on Ren-19

I’ve used Conception Vessel 19 to mainly to help clear a frequent sense of blockage when swallowing food. Whatever any underlying physical cause there may have been, the patient’s doctor couldn’t find it and wasn’t sufficiently concerned to recommend an X-Ray.

This point lies at the same level as Kidney 25 which I often use for stuffiness or discomfort in the chest causing breathing difficulties. Together they could make a powerful combination, perhaps with Lung 5 in case of cough, for instance. Still further over is Stomach 15 which is also used for many of the same problems.

Of these, I find Kidney 25 is usually the most tender when needed, and can be very effective in helping to clear a blocked chest where there is stagnation, for instance of Phlegm or Damp.

To access other points on the Conception Vessel, click below:

Ren-1	Huiyin	Yin Meeting Place
Ren-2	Qugu	Crooked Bone
Ren-3	Zhongji	Utmost Middle
Ren-4	Guanyuan	Source Gate
Ren-5	Shimen	Stonegate
Ren-6	Qihai	Sea of Qi
Ren-7	Yin Jiao	Yin Intersection/td>
Ren-8	Shenque	Spirit Palace Pathway
Ren-9	Shuifen	Water Separation
Ren-10	Xiawan	Lower Stomach Duct
Ren-11	Jianli	Earthing Within
Ren-12	Zhongwan	Utmost Middle
Ren-13	Shangwan	Upper Stomach Duct
Ren-14	Juque	Great Palace Gateway
Ren-15	Jiuwei	Dovetail
Ren-16	Zhongting	Central Hall
Ren-17	Shangzhong	Middle of the Chest
Ren-18	Yutang	Jade Hall
Ren-19	Zigong	Purple Palace
Ren-20	Huagai	Flower Covering
Ren-21	Xuanji	Jade Pearl
Ren-22	Tiantu	Heavenly Rushing
Ren-23	Lianquan	Clear Spring
Ren-24	Chengjiang	Fluid Container