KI-1 - Gushing Spring
涌泉 - Yǒng quán
Point Region: Foot
KI-1 Yongquan, known as 'Bubbling Spring,' represents one of acupressure's most grounding and revitalizing points—a wellspring of vitality located at the sole of the foot where we literally connect with the earth beneath us. This point embodies the Kidney's role as the source of our deepest reserves of energy and wisdom, the place where our essential life force bubbles up from the depths like an artesian well.
As the only point on the sole of the foot and the beginning of the Kidney meridian's upward journey through the body, Yongquan serves as our primary connection to the earth's nourishing energy while simultaneously being the foundation from which our spiritual energy rises. This paradox makes it invaluable for those who feel either too spacey and ungrounded or too heavy and stuck in material concerns.
In the landscape of modern stress and anxiety, KI-1 offers an immediate pathway back to center, literally grounding us through the soles of our feet while revitalizing our deepest energy reserves. This point is particularly powerful for insomnia, anxiety, and that feeling of being energetically depleted, offering a direct connection to the earth's endless capacity for renewal and restoration.
Location & How to Find
Anatomical Location: Located on the plantar surface, between the second and third metatarsals, in a soft depression.
How to Locate:
- Turn your foot sole up
- Curl your toes to make the sole wrinkle
- Find the depression that forms in the upper third of your sole
- The point is in this hollow between the second and third toe bones
Primary Functions
Urinary & Kidney System
- Nourishes kidney yin and essence
- Strengthens kidney qi and vitality
- Regulates water metabolism
- Treats kidney deficiency patterns
Nervous System
- Calms the spirit and reduces anxiety
- Treats insomnia and restlessness
- Grounds excessive mental energy
- Improves mental clarity and focus
Circulatory System
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves circulation to extremities
- Regulates heart rhythm
Emotional & Mental
- Reduces fear and panic
- Strengthens willpower and determination
- Promotes emotional stability
- Treats shock and fainting
Respiratory System
- Assists kidney's function of grasping lung qi
- Treats chronic asthma and breathlessness
Clinical Applications
Primary Indications
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Epilepsy
- Loss of consciousness
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Fainting
- Shock
- Vertigo
Related Health Concerns
Common Conditions:
Related Acupoints
Select a point to learn about its location, primary functions, clinical applications, and protocols.
KI-1 Protocols
Grounding & Anxiety Relief (3 minutes)
- Sit comfortably and remove shoes
- Locate KI-1 (sole of the foot, in the depression when toes are curled)
- Apply gentle thumb pressure for 30 seconds on each foot
- Massage in circular motions for 1 minute to calm the mind and anchor energy
- Repeat pressure while breathing slowly and visualizing roots growing from your feet
Important Precautions
- Pregnancy
- Severe foot infections
- Open wounds on foot sole