Conception Vessel 6 Ren-6 Qihai: ‘Sea of Qi’

Conception Vessel 6 Hero Image
Conception Vessel 6 - Copyright Acupuncture-Points.org

Key Learning Points

  • Conception Vessel 6 harnesses deep energy reserves, but use it only when other energies are in balance
  • Can be difficult to locate CV6 acupuncture point
  • CV 6, Ren 6, tones up Qi, Yang and Kidney energy
  • Contra-indicated during pregnancy – and also avoid when the patient is ‘out of balance’

Conception Vessel 6 (Ren 6, CV 6, Qi Hai) is one of the most important acupuncture points in the body.

It’s the sixth point along the Conception Vessel acupuncture channel, and can harness the dormant energy of your body, so greatly enhancing its capability. 

By ‘Sea of Qi’ is meant Sea of Energy. (But Qi is a rather bigger concept than our word ‘energy’. Click this link for Qi to find out more.)

 

Locating Ren-6

1.5 cun inferior to the centre of the umbilicus.

Given that the distance between the superior part of the pubic bone and the umbilicus is a distance of 5 cun, working out the distance of 1.5cun can be a problem, because 1.5 cun is less than one-third of 5 cun!

There are various ways to do it.

Method 1 for Qi Hai

Because 1.5 is half 3, and 5 is half 10, you could just as easily say the point is 3 tenths of the way down from the umbilicus to the pubic bone. In that case, measure the distance off in lots of 2 tenths and then divide the distance between the second and fourth tenths by two and there’s the point. However, this is really the same, because you have to divide the distance by 10 instead of 5. Some people like this however as they have the minds of accountants and it makes it more precise for them. I used to be an accountant but I don’t do it that way.

 

Conception Vessel 6
Conception Vessel 6 – Copyright Acupuncture-Points.org

Method 2 for Qi Hai

There is fairly general agreement that the width of the middle and index fingers (of the patient) when held together is 1.5 cun. The distance is measured at the level of what is called the proximal inter-phalangeal joint. This is the first joint as you proceed from the knuckle towards the finger-tip.

Most people can bend this joint through at least 90 degrees – a right angle, unlike the second inter-phalangeal joint which lacks such flexibility. So you get the patient to place his index and middle fingers together on his abdomen inferior to the umbilicus. If the medial side of the index finger is level with the centre of the umbilicus, the lateral side of the middle finger should mark the location of Qihai. I say ‘should’! But bodies don’t necessarily conform with specifications! 

Method 3 for Qi Hai

Method 2 is fine if the patient doesn’t mind doing it and has fingers. Not all patients have fingers, though most start with them – but not all. So if methods one and two don’t suit you, you need a back-up. My system depends on rough approximation, like an engineer – I studied engineering at university and approximations suit me. (Don’t scoff at approximations: even when they send rockets to Mars, engineers still use approximations, although admittedly their tolerances are finer than you’ll be using with this, method 3.)

So what is method 3?

Divide the distance between umbilicus and pubic bone by 2. Now divide the upper half (which is 2.5 cun) by 2, and you arrive at 1.25cun down the distance from umbilicus to pubis. There really isn’t much difference between 1.25 and 1.5, so go a smidgeon further down. Then be brave, feel for the point and insert the needle.

Method 4 for Qi Hai

There is another way! One third of 5 is just under 1.7 cun. So you could just divide the distance by 3 and then go up a smidgeon, instead of down a smidgeon.

Method 5 for Qi Hai

Of course you can get clever measuring devices or you can use an elastic band marked off into 5 divisions, and lots of people do this. For me, method 3 usually finds the point.

 

Needling CV 6 acupuncture point

Caution! Don't use Conception Vessel 6 on pregnant women!
Contra-indications for using Ren 6. Photo by Elizabeth Kay

Caution

Do not needle this point in pregnant women.

Otherwise, 1 to 2 cun, perpendicular to the skin.

 

Needle sensation of Ren 6

Up to the umbilicus, down to the urethra, and across to wherever Qi is stagnant or deficient in the abdomen.

NB! Some people have low energy and even if your point location has been precise and your depth and direction of insertion exact, it may take a while to ‘awake’ the point.

Also, it helps it they have food in their belly!

Acupuncture needs qi to work, and if there’s no food, qi runs low. If that’s the case you could add yang qi with moxa first, probably best done at Stomach 42 and/or Kidney 7. But if the patient is fasting or starving, this still won’t work as well as you’d like.

Sometimes using other points brings it to the surface, like Tsusanli, Stomach 36 or Taiyuan, Lung 9 – but in someone who is very weak you may be rightly cautious of using too many points at the same time. If one of the reasons you are using this point is Yang deficiency, then moxa (see below) may awaken it; once it is awake you can rouse it further with your acupuncture needle.

In young and/or healthy people with abundant Qi, the point can respond very quickly and you may find that the needle really does not need to penetrate far to get a reaction. Compare that with older or weaker patients for whom you may initially feel as if the tip of the needle is inside an empty cave!

Regarding those young healthy people, if their energy responds so fast, you probably don’t need to use this point! It could be that you should get other energies in balance, and ease out any Qi stagnation first. When everything else is flowing smoothly, they’ll have plenty of energy.

 

Moxa on CV 6

When you need to strengthen Yang, Conception Vessel 6 is an excellent place to moxa. In case of collapse of Yang, use on a slice of ginger for added effect.

person holding lighted lighter with fire: moxa on CV 6
Take care if using moxa, though it usually helps Ren 6 work better. Photo by Katherine Hanlon

ACTIONS of Conception Vessel 6 (CV6)

  • Shu point of Huang, the area just above the diaphragm
  • Strongly tonifies Qi and Original Qi
  • Also tonifies Kidney Qi
  • Strongly tonifies Yang
  • Raises sinking Qi
  • Moves and regulates the Lower Burner, the Lower abdominal function

 

By the way, if you are a bit daunted by all this ‘yin, yang, qi’ terminology, you may like to read up on balancing yin and yang, and on TCM theory.

Strongly tonifies Qi and Original Qi

  • Overall weakness
  • Poor digestion due to poor digestive power eg giving:
  • – emaciation
  • – weakness of strength and in limbs
  • – weak pulse
  • – weak voice

 

Also tonifies Kidney Qi

 

Strongly tonifies Yang – use Moxa too!

Moxa Cone: great for Conception Vessel 6 yang deficiency

  • Coldness of whole body, or in chest or upper or lower abdomen or in the limbs
  • Weak voice
  • Loose stools, diarrhoea, dysentery from Cold in the intestines
  • Chronic ongoing menstrual flow from deficiency
  • Ongoing discharge from vagina
  • Frequent urination
  • Frequent vomiting
  • Weak erection (of penis – but if the impotence is caused by something other than the purposes/actions of Conception Vessel 6, it won’t work and may depress the patient further. So please diagnose your patient carefully and correctly before relying too heavily on this point!) See also sexual impotence.
  • Improves digestion

 

Conception Vessel 6 Raises sinking Qi

  • Prolapse of uterus, rectum or vagina
  • Uterine haemorrhage (eg after childbirth)
  • Incontinence
  • Ongoing blood loss or discharge after labour

 

Moves and regulates the Lower Burner, the Lower abdominal function

  • Problems arising from Qi stagnationstasis of Blood, deficiency of Qi or Cold, but also from excess
  • Swollen abdomen with panting
  • Hernia
  • Irregular menses
  • Dysmenorrhoa
  • Haematuria (blood in urine)
  • Pain or heat in testes
  • Abdomen swollen hard
  • Constipation
  • Inability to urinate
  • Ileocaecal pain (eg appendicitis type pain – use moxa)
  • Abdominial masses (because this Qi controls Blood and abdominal masses derive from Blood that isn’t moving ie Blood Stasis)
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COMMENT on Conception Vessel 6

Comment on CV 6
Photo by Rhythm Goyal

Conception Vessel 6 is a powerful revitalising and reinvigorating point, but also good for all genital, urinary and abdominal conditions.

It regulates the function of Qi and its circulation, thereby dispelling weakness and Damp. So acupuncture here helps to circulate fluids and assists urination.

It benefits the uterus and the heart, and with Conception Vessel 4 it strengthens the body’s resistance to disease.

With Spleen 10 it tonifies the Qi to tonify the Blood.

If Qi stagnation (see also my book below) arises from Qi deficiency then this point may be very effective in moving the stagnation.

Conception Vessel 6 is also a good point for anxiety, although there are many causes of anxiety and this point doesn’t address all of them.

In modern developed societies, many people allow themselves to get over-tired through

  • long hours of work,
  • too strenuous exercise,
  • poor diet,
  • terrible rest and sleep habits,
  • huge expectations on themselves and then, of course …
  • anxiety.

 

For them, this point can be very tempting. However, Chinese medicine and acupuncture work long-term because they emphasize balance. That balance is between yin and yang, Qi and Blood.

So just boosting Yang can imbalance people, and unfortunately you probably won’t see what happens.

If you are yin deficient, and plan to use this point, there’s something you should avoid. That’s because it boosts yang but at the expense of yin reserves.

What is it? Coffee (also anything containing caffeine.)

Coffee - not good for yin deficiency! Use with great caution if using Qi Hai
Beware coffee if using CV6! Photo by Devin Avery

Analogy

I have used this analogy on this site already. Please don’t boost this point until you have put other matters into balance.

 

Otherwise, it may be a bit like putting rocket fuel into a small car.

 

Yes! –  it may go very fast and your patient may seem very pleased, but if the individual driving the car is angry or otherwise emotional (imbalanced between yin and yang, qi and blood, or in the five elements cycle, for example,) they may not be able to control their car’s energy, and end up in the ditch.

 

Though your patient may be insistent – perhaps they read about Conception Vessel 6 here! – have compassion by all means, but tempered with good judgement!

 

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

Ren-1HuiyinYin Meeting PlaceRen-13ShangwanUpper Stomach Duct
Ren-2QuguCrooked BoneRen-14JuqueGreat Palace Gateway
Ren-3ZhongjiUtmost MiddleRen-15JiuweiDovetail
Ren-4GuanyuanSource GateRen-16ZhongtingCentral Hall
Ren-5ShimenStonegateRen-17ShangzhongMiddle of the Chest
Ren-6QihaiSea of QiRen-18YutangJade Hall
Ren-7Yin JiaoYin Intersection/td>Ren-19ZigongPurple Palace
Ren-8ShenqueSpirit Palace PathwayRen-20HuagaiFlower Covering
Ren-9ShuifenWater SeparationRen-21XuanjiJade Pearl
Ren-10XiawanLower Stomach DuctRen-22TiantuHeavenly Rushing
Ren-11JianliEarthing WithinRen-23LianquanClear Spring
Ren-12ZhongwanUtmost MiddleRen-24ChengjiangFluid Container

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6 Responses

  1. Hello David, I have been suffering from longCovid for 22 months now. I tried to continue gardenwork last year which made my symptoms much worse. My main complaint is post-exertional malaise, brainfog and tinnitus. I receive regular tuina-massage on ren 6. Could this actually contribute to the overall imbalance I experience? Thank you for your time, warm regards, Veronique Lambermont

    1. Hi Veronique, Jonathan here – not David (he’s an imposter!).

      Malaise takes many forms, so I can’t be sure, but the Chinese concept of Damp (https://www.acupuncture-points.org/damp.html) often explains some of its symptoms. If so, it’s a form of Yin excess (https://www.acupuncture-points.org/yin-excess.html) which needs to be cleared before stimulating yang too much. CV6 is definitely more yang in action and you might think this good for malaise from Damp, but actually it might stir it upwards.

      That takes me to your second symptom, brainfog. This isn’t exactly the same as Damp, but can be a bit like it, and also like phlegm-caused dizziness, which does have muzziness in its picture. Phlegm is also an excess yin factor.

      However, qi deficiency can lead to poor brain function too and this probably does apply to you if your brainfog is worse after exertion.

      Tinnitus can be from both yang excess and yin deficiency, also various kinds of Blood deficiency. Again, I can’t be sure from your description of its onset, but it probably has some Lung qi and Heart qi deficiency as contributing factors.

      So, guessing, I’d say that some of your symptoms come from qi deficiency and some from excess yin factors which aren’t being ‘descended’ properly. While CV6 probably helps the qi deficiency, it just might be exacerbating the excess yin factors. If I’m right about the excess yin factors, suggest to your tuina therapist that s/he spends some time on Stomach 40 (https://www.acupuncture-points.org/stomach-40.html) and maybe less time on CV6. Jonathan

  2. Thank you Jonathan – your site is always helpful. I measure Ren 6 in another way again. Using the index, middle and ring fingers on both hands, I place my spread fingertips, equally spaced out, on Ren 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 (6 fingers, 5 spaces). Ren 6 is then half way between Ren 4 and Ren 8. Might be useful for someone.

    1. Yes! If it works for you, it should work for others! Thank-you for contributing!

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