Solitary Yin

独阴Dú Yīn

Anatomical location

On the transverse crease of the distal interphalangeal joint of the 2nd toe, plantar side.

Main function

Regulates Qi, eases pain.

Therapeutic indications

Dysmenorrhea
stomach pain
retained placenta
vomiting

Name and classical tradition

Duyin, 独阴, is the “solitary Yin”: 独 (獨), alone, single; 阴 (陰), Yin. It is on the sole of the foot, at the crease of the second joint of the second toe, and the texts give no certain explanation for the name.

The Zhenjiu Dacheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) records it with mainly gynecological indications: «獨陰二穴，在足第二指下，橫紋中是穴，治小腸疝氣，又治死胎，胎衣不下，灸五壯», for hernia, for expelling a dead fetus and a retained placenta, and also for nausea in women and irregular menstruation. It is the same toe where ST45, Lidui, ends, on the upper side.

Location of point EX-LE11, Solitary Yin — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-LE11 on the anatomy

Needling techniqueIndirect moxibustion; occasional shallow needling.

DepthShallow if needled

MoxibustionTechnique of choice.

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.