In the upper abdomen, on the anterior midline, when the umbilicus in the upper 2 inches is the lower epigastric point. Its anatomical position is on the white line of the abdomen, deep to the transverse colon, with branches from the junction of the upper and lower arteries and veins of the abdominal wall, and covered with the medial branch of the anterior cutaneous branch of the eighth intercostal nerve.
The lower epigastric point belongs to the Ren Vessel point, which is the meeting of the foot Taiyin and Ren Vessel. It is commonly used clinically to treat epigastric pain, abdominal distension, vomiting, eructation (hiccups), failure to dissolve food and grain, intestinal sounding, diarrhea, plaque (lumps), and deficiency swelling. In clinical practice, it can be combined with other points such as Tianshu, Qihai, Guanyuan, and Zhusanli to treat various diseases.
Acupuncture of the lower epigastric point can be done directly or with moxibustion.
When needling the lower epigastric point due to illness, it is necessary to go to the hospital and have a Chinese medicine practitioner to complete the procedure, and avoid the patient having an empty stomach so as to avoid any dizziness, and should not be needled if the skin at the point is broken.