SP-16 - Abdominal Lament
腹哀 - Fù āi
Point Region: Upper abdomen
Location & How to Find
Anatomical Location: On the upper abdomen, 3 cun above the centre of the navel, 4 cun out from the midline. It lies 3 cun above SP-15, level with CV-11.
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:
- Find SP-15, level with the navel on the line below the nipple
- Measure four finger-widths straight up
- The point is there
How to Apply Pressure
After identifying SP-16, rest a fingertip lightly on the upper abdomen; keep contact gentle and stop if it hurts. Skip it during pregnancy, after recent abdominal surgery, or with acute abdominal pain, which requires medical evaluation.
Traditional Indications
In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:
- Abdominal distention
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- IBS
- Abdominal cramps
- Digestive problems
Related Health Concerns
Related Acupoints
Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.
Important Precautions
Avoid this point with:
- Pregnancy
- Severe digestive disorders
- Acute abdominal conditions