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The meridian of Foot-Shaoyin Kidney originates from below the little toe. It slants into the sole of the foot (the sole, where Yongquan [KI-1] is located. *Suwen* states: The root of Shaoyin starts at Yongquan). It emerges below Ran Gu [KI-2] (the location of Ran Gu; *Suwen* says: if blood does not flow out after needling the vessels in the pericardium of the sole, swelling will occur). It follows behind the medial malleolus (where Tai Xi [KI-3] is located). A branch enters the heel (Da Zhong [KI-4] is here in the heel; the collateral of Foot-Shaoyin diverges to enter the collateral of Foot-Taiyang). It ascends above the medial malleolus (Fu Liu [KI-7] is above the medial malleolus, within the two-cun mark of the body inch). It emerges along the medial margin of the medial malleolus (Yin Gu [KI-10] is located here on the medial margin). It ascends along the posterior medial aspect of the thigh, penetrates the spine, and connects with the Kidney (as the meridian of Foot-Shaoyin belongs to the Kidney, its vessel connects with the Kidney). It links with the Bladder (the Bladder is the exterior-interior partner of the Kidney, so its vessel connects with the Bladder). Its straight branch rises from the Kidney, passes through the Liver and Diaphragm, enters the chest, follows the throat, and flanks the base of the tongue. Its branch emerges from the Lung, connects with the Heart, and pours into the chest (Foot-Shaoyin intersects with Hand-Jueyin Pericardium here).

When the meridian undergoes pathological changes ("Shi Dong" diseases), symptoms include: hunger without desire to eat; complexion as black as charcoal (or earth color; *Suwen* says: a complexion as black as earth indicates the internal loss of harmonious Qi, causing color change); coughing and spitting blood (*Suwen* states that coughing with blood results from injury to Yang vessels; when Yang Qi is not yet abundant above but the vessels are full, fullness causes coughing, so blood appears in the nose); panting with sound (because the meridian enters the Lung and follows the throat); sitting up wanting to stand (due to unstable Yin and Yang lacking a master; early autumn brings slight frost and the withering of all things, leading to internal depletion of Yin and Yang, causing blurred vision); heart feeling empty like hunger; Qi deficiency leading to fearfulness, with a startled heart as if someone were about to capture one (*Suwen* says: fearing as if being chased occurs because in peak autumn, Yin Qi is scant while Yang Qi enters, and their struggle causes fear). This is called "Gu Jue" (Bone Reversal). This meridian primarily governs the Kidney (Kidney governs bones; Gu Jue implies rebellious Kidney Qi).

"Suo Sheng Bing" (Diseases generated by the meridian) include: heat in the mouth and dry tongue; swollen throat with upward rushing Qi, dry and painful pharynx; vexation and heart pain; jaundice; intestinal rumbling and diarrhea; pain along the posterior medial aspect of the spine and thigh; Wei syndrome with cold extremities and drowsiness (when one contracts summer-heat toxicity which lodges in the Kidney, the small organ cannot overcome the large pathogen, leading to emptiness of bones and marrow, so the feet cannot support the body, generating Wei Jue; weakness leads to drowsiness); constant heat and pain in the sole of the foot, gradually progressing to heaviness in the feet as if unable to lift them. Treatment involves moxibustion to strengthen appetite and generate flesh, loosening belts, letting hair down, and walking with a thick staff and heavy shoes. In excess conditions, the Cun Kou pulse is twice as large as the Ren Ying pulse; in deficiency conditions, the Cun Kou pulse is smaller than the Ren Ying pulse.

The collateral of Foot-Shaoyin is named Da Zhong. It is located behind the ankle, winding around the heel, and diverging to Foot-Taiyang. Another branch runs along the main meridian upward to the lower Pericardium, externally penetrating the waist and spine. Pathological manifestations include: rebellious Qi causing irritability; excess causing urinary retention; deficiency causing lower back pain. Treat by selecting the collateral point.

The sinews of Foot-Shaoyin originate from below the little toe, running obliquely with the sinews of Foot-Taiyin to the lower medial malleolus, knotting at the calcaneus, combining with the sinews of Foot-Taiyang to ascend and knot below the medial condyle of the tibia. They run up the medial thigh with the sinews of Foot-Taiyang, knotting at the genitalia, following the interior of the spine alongside the paravertebral muscles to the nape, knotting at the occiput, and combining with the sinews of Foot-Taiyang. Pathologies include: twitching/cramping of the sole, and pain/twitching at sites of passage and knotting. Internal pathology manifests as epilepsy and spasms; external pathology prevents flexion. Internal pathology prevents extension. Thus, Yang pathology causes opisthotonos preventing flexion; Yin pathology prevents extension. Treatment uses burning needles (fire needles) for rapid puncture, taking efficacy as the count and pain points as acupoints. Internal pathology requires warming therapy, guidance exercises, and herbal medicine inducing sweating multiple times. Severe cases are fatal and untreatable. This is called "Zhong Qiu Bi" (Mid-Autumn Obstruction).

Evil lodging in the collaterals of Foot-Shaoyin causes sudden heart pain, acute distension, and fullness/stiffness in the chest and hypochondrium without accumulation. Puncture the central vessels of the sole three times on each side, six punctures total, for immediate relief. Use left-right cross-puncturing. For swelling in the throat preventing swallowing or expectoration of saliva, puncture anterior to Ran Gu until bleeding occurs for immediate relief. Use bilateral cross-puncturing.

Kidney disease presents with abdominal distension, leg edema, wheezing/cough, heavy body, nocturnal sweating, and aversion to wind. Deficiency presents with chest pain, lower abdominal pain, cold extremities, and unhappiness. Treat by selecting Blood points of Foot-Shaoyin and Foot-Shaoyang meridians.

Kidney Heat Disease begins with lower back pain and soreness, bitter thirst with frequent drinking, and fever. When heat struggles with healthy Qi, neck pain and stiffness occur, accompanied by chills and soreness, hot soles, and reluctance to speak. If Qi rebels, neck pain and palpitations occur. Symptoms worsen on Wu/Ji days, with profuse sweating on Ren/Gui days. Qi rebellion leads to death on Wu/Ji days. Puncture Foot-Shaoyin and Foot-Taiyang. In Kidney Heat Disease, the chin turns red first. Generally, heat diseases begin with heaviness, bone pain, deafness, and desire to close eyes. Puncture Foot-Shaoyin. For severe cases, use the 59-point puncture method.

The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian travels from the foot to the chest, measuring 6 chi 5 cun, totaling 1 zhang 3 chi bilaterally. It contains 54 acupoints.
Yongquan (2), Ran Gu (2), Tai Xi (2), Da Zhong (2), Zhao Hai (2), Shui Quan (2), Fu Liu (2), Jiao Xin (2), Zhu Bin (2), Yin Gu (2), Heng Gu (2), Da He (2), Qi Xue (2), Si Man (2), Zhong Zhu (2), Huang Shu (2), Shang Qu (2), Shi Guan (2), Yin Du (2), Tong Gu (2), You Men (2), Bu Lang (2), Shen Feng (2), Ling Xu (2), Shen Zang (2), Yu Zhong (2), Fu She (2).