Root of the Abdominal Mass

痞根Pǐ Gēn

Anatomical location

3.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of L1.

Same point as CP66 · Pí Gēn — Curious Points catalog

Main function

Dissolves accumulations, regulates the Spleen.

Therapeutic indications

Splenomegaly
abdominal masses
low back pain

Name and classical tradition

Pigen, 痞根, is the “root of the mass”: 痞 refers to the sensation of blockage and to masses in the abdomen; 根, the root. The point lies in the lumbar region, three and a half cun from the midline, level with the first lumbar vertebra, next to BL51, Huangmen, and the name presents it as the place where the origin of those masses is addressed.

It does not appear in the classical works we were able to check, from the Neijing to the Zhenjiu Dacheng. Secondary sources trace it to Ming-dynasty works that we have not reviewed here, so its first mention remains unclear.

Location of point EX-BW4, Root of the Abdominal Mass — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-BW4 on the anatomy

Needling techniquePerpendicular insertion.

Depth0.5-1 cun

MoxibustionApplicable.

PrecautionsNone in particular.

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.