CV-3 - Middle Pole

中极 - Zhōng jí

Point Region: Lower abdomen

CV

Conception Vessel

任脉 - Rèn mài

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the lower abdomen, on the midline, 4 cun below the centre of the navel.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find the top edge of your pubic bone at the midline (5 cun below the navel)
  2. Measure one thumb-width up
  3. The point is there, on the midline
CV-3 (Middle Pole) acupressure point location: On the lower abdomen, on the midline, 4 cun below the centre of the navel.

How to Apply Pressure

Measure four cun down the centre line from the navel and touch the point. Use steady, comfortable pressure only; do not press deeply or painfully. Do not use this point during pregnancy, after a recent cesarean section, or with severe pelvic inflammatory disease.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Bladder inflammation
  • Pelvic pain
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Painful periods
  • Infertility

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Pregnancy
  • Recent cesarean section
  • Severe pelvic inflammatory disease