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"Diagram of the Kidney"

The Classics state: The Kidney is the official responsible for strength and vigor, from which skills and ingenuity emerge. The Kidney governs hibernation (quiescence), serving as the root of storage and conservation, and is the residence of essence (Jing). Its luster manifests in the hair, it nourishes the bones, it is the Shaoyin within Yin, and communicates with the Qi of Winter.

The North corresponds to black; its Qi enters the Kidney, opens into the two yin passages (anterior and posterior orifices), stores essence in the Kidney, therefore diseases manifest in the xigu (valleys between muscles). Its flavor is salty, its element is Water, its associated domestic animal is the pig, it corresponds to the four seasons, and above it corresponds to Chenxing (Mercury); thus, one knows that disease resides in the bones. Its musical note is Yu, its number is six, its odor is putrid, its fluid is saliva, and its color is black. The North generates Cold; Cold generates Water; Water generates Salty flavor; Salty flavor generates the Kidney; the Kidney generates bone marrow. In Heaven it is Cold, on Earth it is Water, in the body it is Bone, in the zang organs it is the Kidney, in color it is Black, in sound it is Yu, in vocalization it is groaning, in pathological change it is trembling, in the orifice it is the Ear, in flavor it is Salty, and in emotion it is Fear. Fear injures the Kidney; Thought overcomes Fear. Cold injures Blood; Dampness overcomes Cold. Salty flavor injures Blood; Sweet flavor overcomes Salty flavor. The Kidney opens into the Ear; when the Ear is harmonious, one can hear the five tones.

The Foot-Shaoyin Meridian of Foot-Taiyin begins below the little toe, slants toward the center of the foot, emerges below the Ran Gu point, follows behind the medial malleolus, and branches into the heel. It ascends along the medial aspect of the lower leg, emerges at the medial margin of the medial malleolus, ascends along the posterior medial margin of the thigh, penetrates the spine, connects with the Kidney, and links with the Bladder. The straight branch ascends from the Kidney, passes through the Liver and diaphragm, enters the Lung, follows the throat, and attaches to the root of the tongue. The branch emerges from the Lung, connects with the Heart, and pours into the chest.

Yongquan (KI 1, also known as Dichong) is located in the depression in the center of the sole of the foot, in the hollow formed when the toes are curled; it is taken in a kneeling position. This is the Jing-Well point of the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, belonging to Wood. Needle 5 fen, moxibustion 3 moxa cones.

[Indications] Shijue (corpse-like coma), face black as charcoal, wheezing and vomiting blood, vision blurred or unable to see, frequent fear, sore throat, dysentery, acute pain in the lower abdomen, diarrhea with tenesmus, sensation of blockage in the shins, neck pain, dizziness, "Zhuanbao" (bladder distension leading to urinary retention), cholera with muscle spasms, Renji Ben tun (Kidney accumulation with rushing gas), and Re jue (heat collapse).

Rangu (KI 2, also known as Longyuan) is located in the depression below the large bone anterior to the medial malleolus. Another description places it 1 cun below the anterior aspect of the medial malleolus, distinct from the Taiyin and Chong meridians. This is the Ying-Spring point of the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, belonging to Fire. Needle 3 fen, moxibustion 3 moxa cones.