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POINT: DU-4 (GOVERNING VESSEL-4)  

NAME: MINGMEN

English: Gate of Life
Also Known As: Vital Gate
Life's Door
Gate of Destiny
Jinggong
Palace of Essence

LOCATION:

  • Inferior to the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, on the posterior midline.
  • Between the spinous processes of the second and third lumbar vertebrae.
  • On the midline of the lower back, in the depression below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra.
  • Note: The point is located one intervertebral space below the lines connecting the highest points of the two iliac crests, level with the lower border of L-3.

NEEDLING:

  • Straight insertion, pointed slightly toward the spine, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: local distention. If the needle is inserted too deeply, there is an electric, numb sensation extending into the lower limb.
  • Puncture perpendicularly 0.5 to 1 cun.
  • Moxibustion is applicable.
  • Caution: the spinal cord lies between 1.25 and 1.75 cun deep to the skin surface, varying according to body build.

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

ACTIONS:

  • Tonifies the Kidneys
  • Tonifies Kidney Yang
  • Tonifies Yuan Qi
  • Regulates the water pathways
  • Dries Dampness and Cold-Damp
  • Warms the Yang
  • Warms Cold
  • Warms the Ming Men
  • Tonifies the lower back
  • Benefits the lumbar vertebrae
  • Tonifies bones
  • Strengthens Jing
  • Stabilizes Kidney Qi
  • Calms the fetus
  • Calms the Shen
  • Benefits and clears the Brain
  • Restores collapsed Yang
  • Clears Heat
  • Regulates the DU channel

INDICATIONS:

  • Bone disorders
  • Chronic nephritis
  • Sequelae of infantile paralysis
  • Neurasthenia due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
  • Lower back stiffness and pain
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Amenorrhea
  • Leukorrhea
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
  • Seizures
  • Mania
  • Childhood convulsions
  • Meningitis
  • Fear and fright
  • Insomnia
  • Cold extremities
  • Chilliness
  • Tiredness
  • Lack of vitality
  • A pale tongue
  • A deep and weak pulse
  • Chronic lower back ache
  • Abdominal pain
  • Infertility
  • Endometritis
  • Spinal myelitis
  • Headache
  • Tidal fevers
  • Prolapsed anus
  • Lumbago
  • Dysentery
  • Four limbs icy and flaccid
  • Infantile epilepsy with mouth open, head moving incessantly and body arched
  • Headache and tinnitus
  • Yin or Yang malaria with cough, body burning like Fire with a very high temperature but no sweat
  • Gonorrhea
  • General Kidney diseases
  • Intestinal hemorrhage
  • Heat in the body like Fire
  • Epilepsy
  • Heat of the five Zang
  • Shaking of the head with open mouth
  • Splitting headache
  • Shan (hernia) disorder
  • Cold Bi of the hands and feet
  • Unstable temperature
  • Kidney pain radiating to the abdomen
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Dysuria
  • Hemafecia due to Cold
  • Diarrhea
  • Atrophy syndrome due to Jing Deficiency
  • Restless fetus disorder due to Kidney Deficiency
  • All sexual dysfunctions
  • Impotence
  • Sterility
  • Anemia
  • Disorientation due to Deficiency
  • Forgetfulness
  • Somnolence
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Abundant clear urine
  • Depression
  • Weak knees and legs
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Nocturnal emissions
  • Enuresis
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Peritonitis
  • Sciatica
  • Pain of Intestinal colic
  • Bloody vaginal discharge
  • Indigestion
  • Ejaculation in coitus does not stop in elderly persons
  • Rectal prolapse
  • Intestinal pain
  • Headache like a hatchet
  • High fever
  • Heat in the bones
  • Osseous tuberculosis
  • Urethritis in women
  • Diseases of the genital organ system
  • Cerebral congestion
  • Heat at the top of the body
  • Steaming bones
  • Malaria with alternating chills and fever
  • Opisthotonis
  • White turbidity
  • Spinal rigidity with inability to flex and extend the back

COMBINATIONS:

DU-14
Dazhui
UB-17
Geshu
LI-11
Quchi
ST-36
Zusanli

DU-20
Baihui
REN-4
Guanyuan
SP-6
Sanyinjiao
UB-33
Zhongliao

UB-23
Shenshu

Iron deficiency anemia

Enuresis (moxa)

Copious urine in the elderly (moxa)

Lumbar pain in the elderly

PC-9
Zhongchong

UB-23
Shenshu
REN-6
Qihai
KI-2
Rangu

 

Heat in the body like Fire

Splitting headache

Impotence

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

  • Be careful with moxa. Make sure there is no Heat anywhere.
  • According to a number of classical texts, this point is contraindicated to moxibustion in those who are under twenty years of age.

NOTES:

  • This is the most powerful point to strengthen Kidney Yang, especially with moxa.
  • It is considered to be a rejuvenation point.
  • This point is indicated for Heat disorders, whether Interior or Exterior or Excess or Deficient.
  • It affects the testes, adrenals and ovaries.