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Spleen 9 Acupuncture Point Location, Practical Uses, and Benefits

Spleen 9 Overview

Spleen 9, also known as Yin Ling Quan or “Yin Mound Spring”, is a frequently used acupuncture point in clinical practice. It is the Yuan Primary point of the Spleen meridian, often paired with other points for enhancing its therapeutic effects. Spleen 9 is particularly effective in draining dampness from the body, a concept we will explore in more depth in future articles.

Point Location of Spleen 9

Spleen 9 is located on the medial aspect of the lower leg, just below the medial condyle of the tibia. Another way to locate this point is by palpating upward along the medial aspect of the tibia, from proximal to distal, until you feel where the curve of the bone begins (inferior posterior to the medial condyle). This specific curve is where Spleen 9 is situated.

spleen 9 point location
Spleen 9 Acupuncture Point Location. Photo Credit:doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3233-71

Needle Depth

As for needle depth, you can safely insert the needle about one cun into Spleen 9. This point is known for occasionally producing a catching sensation. When patients feel that sensation, it can actually help them relax, allowing the muscles to loosen and promoting a state of homeostasis. This response reduces the body’s fight-or-flight triggers, helping patients feel more balanced and at ease. Overall, there are many beneficial uses for this point in practice.

Functions and Indications

Spleen 9 is known for its strong action in regulating water metabolism and resolving dampness. It can be used to treat various conditions associated with dampness, such as:

  • Edema
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal distention
  • Urinary issues
  • Joint pain, especially in the lower limbs

This point is also beneficial for conditions like urinary tract infections and digestive disorders, which are commonly tied to an excess of dampness in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

TCM Function include:2

Difference Between Stomach and Spleen Function in TCM

In TCM, both the stomach and spleen are integral to the digestive system, but they serve distinct roles. The stomach is responsible for holding and breaking down food. It’s seen as the “receptacle” where the food is received and prepared for digestion. On the other hand, the spleen governs the process of transformation and transportation, which means it plays a crucial role in metabolizing food and extracting nutrients to create energy (similar to the metabolic process, like ATP production in Western medicine).

The spleen’s function can be understood as converting food into energy to nourish the body. In TCM, it is directly related to the process of converting food into Qi (vital energy) and blood, which are distributed throughout the body. When the spleen’s function is impaired, common symptoms include abdominal distension, low energy, burping, constipation, and diarrhea. These are clear indicators that the transformation and transportation processes are out of balance, and the spleen is struggling to properly metabolize food and fluids.

In summary:

  • Stomach: Receives and holds food, breaks it down.
  • Spleen: Transforms food into energy, governs metabolism and nutrient distribution.

Diarrhea in Traditional Chinese Medicine is often associated with the spleen, because the natural flow of spleen qi is supposed to move upwards, supporting digestion and the body’s overall energy balance. However, when the spleen qi is weak or disrupted, it can move in the wrong direction—downwards—leading to symptoms like diarrhea. This downward flow of qi also ties into other conditions, such as prolapse, particularly uterine or rectal prolapse, which is classified in TCM as spleen qi sinking.

From a biomedical perspective, prolapse refers to the weakening of the body’s supportive structures, and in TCM, it’s linked directly to spleen qi deficiency or “spleen qi sinking”. When there is a dysfunction in the spleen meridian, the energy transformation process—turning food into energy—gets interrupted, and this often results in various digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, or fatigue.

So, when there’s a “kink” in the process of food being transformed into energy, the spleen qi is an area where practitioners can look. Again, every patient is different. However, a healthy spleen ensures that food is efficiently metabolized, and when it’s not functioning optimally, various digestive and energy issues will manifest.

In cases like acid reflux or stomach pain, I typically turn to the stomach meridian for treatment. If it’s more about emptying contents or addressing digestive discomfort, the stomach meridian is my focus. However, when it comes to how your body is using and transforming energy—especially how it’s adapting food into something beneficial—this is the spleen’s domain.

Interestingly, I’ve noticed that when there’s an issue related to the spleen, this point (Spleen 9) is often tender. It’s one of those points that consistently responds well to its function, both in my clinical practice and personal experience. I’ve had great success using this point, and when patients report tenderness at this location, it typically correlates with their symptoms, helping to resolve issues quickly.

Self Acupressure for Spleen 9

I personally use Spleen 9, and it can be highly effective for providing instant relief from constipation, especially if there’s difficulty in pushing. However, it’s important to remember that there’s no “cure-all” or “treat-all” point. If this point doesn’t work for the patient at a given time, it likely indicates that there’s another underlying cause that needs to be addressed. In such cases, you must explore and treat the root issue accordingly.

Utilize what you can, not only used by acupuncturists, but also as a tool that patients can use themselves. Spleen 9 is a point that can be easily taught to patients for self-acupressure. By applying light pressure on the point for 2-3 seconds and repeating as needed, patients can safely and effectively manage their symptoms on their own. This empowers them to take an active role in their own care between treatments.

Research on Spleen 9

In a 2012 case study published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine, a female patient with a one-year history of IBS following an episode of acute gastroenteritis was treated using acupuncture and moxibustion. Her symptoms included abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, and bloating. Acupuncture treatments were focused on regulating the qi, tonifying the Spleen, and harmonizing the Liver. Other points were included in the treatment including spleen 9. After 16 acupuncture sessions over four months, the patient experienced improved bowel movements, softer stools, and less reliance on stool softeners.3

A preliminary review mentioned that electro-acupuncture at Spleen 9 and Liver 8 (Ququan, LR or LV 8 ) acupoints could increase the blood flow in the spleen and liver, respectively, whereas the sham electro-acupuncture did not increase these parameters.4

References

  1. Guo J, Chen Y, Li Z, et al. The cerebral mechanism of acupuncture for treating knee osteoarthritis: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2019;20. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3233-7. ↩︎
  2. Kim HB. Handbook of Oriental Medicine. 3rd ed. Los Angeles, CA. 2012. p. 211. ↩︎
  3. Anastasi JK, Capili B. The Treatment of Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Case Report. J Chin Med. 2012 Jun;99:68-71. PMID: 29051677; PMCID: PMC5644494. ↩︎
  4. Fang Li, Tian He, Qian Xu, Li-Ting Lin, Hui Li, Yan Liu, Guang-Xia Shi, Cun-Zhi Liu, What is the Acupoint? A preliminary review of Acupoints, Pain Medicine, Volume 16, Issue 10, October 2015, Pages 1905–1915, https://doi.org/10.1111/pme.12761 ↩︎
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