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KI23

Kidney Channel

Spirit Seal

神封Shénfēng

Anatomical location

In the fourth intercostal space, 2 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

Main function

Regulates Heart Qi, calms the Shen, benefits the chest, and treats emotional and thoracic disorders.

  • Crossing point with the Heart

Therapeutic indications

  • Palpitations
  • anxiety
  • insomnia
  • chest pain
  • cough
  • asthma
  • mastitis
  • poor appetite

Name and classical tradition

Shenfeng, 神封, is the "seal of the spirit." 神 is the spirit, and here it marks the beginning of a series of spirit names on the chest; 封 means to seal or close, and also the fief, the territory granted. The modern gloss understands that the Qi arriving from below, already weak, loses its warmth here and is sealed. It has no classical citation.

The point lies in the fourth intercostal space, two cun from the midline. Together with KI24, Lingxu, and KI25, Shencang, it forms a group of three chest points whose names carry 神 or 靈, the spirit, at the level of the Heart. The first work to record it is the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). No alternate names are known.

Location of point KI23, Spirit Seal
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View point on the 3D modelKI23 on the anatomy
Needling techniqueOblique insertion 0.5-0.8 cun. Take care to avoid the pleura. Moxibustion is effective (3-5 minutes). Combine with Shenmen (HT7) for anxiety.
Depth0.5-0.8 cun
MoxibustionRecommended with caution (3-5 minutes)
Cover of the guide “Protocols for the 20 most common patterns”

Free guide · PDF

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.

Do you use KI23 with your patients?

In the Clinic you record it in the patient's file, next to the tongue, the pulse and the measurements, so at the next session you know exactly what you used. The Atlas is built in.

See the Clinic