KI-15 (Zhong Zhu) Central Flow

What does KI-15 Zhong Zhu do?

KI-15 regulates the intestines and regulates the lower jiao — a lower-abdominal Kidney point weighted, unusually for the run, toward the bowel.

• Regulates the intestines — the bowel action, behind its use for constipation and abdominal pain
• Regulates the lower jiao — the general lower-abdominal action shared with its neighbours

The intestinal emphasis sets it apart. Most of the Kidney abdominal points lean toward the bladder and reproductive organs; KI-15’s first recorded action is to regulate the intestines, and constipation sits among its indications. That bowel weighting is its distinguishing note within the run — a small difference of emphasis, but a real one worth stating.

A Penetrating-vessel meeting point. Like the whole Kidney abdominal run (KI-11 to KI-21), KI-15 is a Meeting Point with the Penetrating (Chong) vessel — which is why menstrual irregularity appears among its indications alongside the bowel entries.

On the name — and a collision to flag. “Zhong Zhu” here means Central Flow. But there are two points called Zhong Zhu in our data, and they are entirely different: KI-15 Zhong Zhu, Central Flow, here on the lower abdomen — and SJ-03 Zhong Zhu, Central Islet, on the back of the hand (the San Jiao Shu-Stream point). Same pinyin, different Chinese characters for zhu (flow vs islet), different channel, different location. Our library documents this among the genuine point-name collisions; a reference to “Zhong Zhu” must say which.

Source: Sacred Lotus sources & references (channel, classification, action and translation records; both Zhong Zhu points — KI-15 and SJ-03 — and the Kidney–Penetrating-vessel run queried against our own data), cross-referenced against multiple online sources.

What is KI-15 Zhong Zhu used for?

KI-15 is used for irregular menstruation, abdominal pain, and constipation. Our own indication record is reproduced here in full — a short, focused list.

• Irregular menstruation
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation

Bowel and menstruation — the two actions in miniature. Constipation and abdominal pain are the intestine-regulating action; irregular menstruation is the lower-jiao and Penetrating-vessel action. It is one of the more concise indication lists in the Kidney run, matching the point’s two-line action.

An honest note. A persistent change in bowel habit — new or ongoing constipation, especially with abdominal pain, bleeding, or weight loss — requires medical assessment, since bowel disease including cancer can present this way. Abdominal pain that is severe, sudden or persistent requires assessment. A change in menstrual pattern warrants evaluation rather than repeated self-treatment. This record documents classical use only.

How it is combined. With ST-25 Tian Shu and ST-37 Shang Ju Xu for the bowel, with SP-06 San Yin Jiao for menstruation, and with the neighbouring Kidney abdominal points. All held here.

Source: Sacred Lotus sources & references (indication and action records; the SP-06, ST-25 and ST-37 records queried from our own data), cross-referenced against multiple online sources.

Where is KI-15 Zhong Zhu located?

KI-15 is on the lower abdomen, one cun below the navel, half a cun to the side of the midline.

• 1 cun below the umbilicus (navel)
• 0.5 cun lateral to REN-7 Yin Jiao, the midline point at that level
• Part of the Kidney abdominal run, each point 0.5 cun out from a midline Ren-channel point

Paired with a midline point, like the rest of the run. Fix the level 1 cun below the navel — where REN-7 Yin Jiao sits on the midline — then step half a cun to the side to reach KI-15. Its immediate Kidney neighbours are KI-14 (2 cun below the navel) below and KI-16 Huang Shu (level with the navel) above.

A small aside on the midline partner. KI-15’s midline partner, REN-7, is itself named Yin Jiao — and that name, confusingly, is shared with DU-28 Yin Jiao on the gum, a separate point-name collision our data documents. It does not affect locating KI-15, but it is worth knowing that both of KI-15’s naming references (Zhong Zhu, and its partner Yin Jiao) sit on collision lists.

On the name. “Zhong Zhu” — Central Flow, not to be confused with SJ-03 Zhong Zhu (Central Islet) on the hand, as noted above.

Source: Sacred Lotus sources & references (location and translation records, retained unchanged; the REN-7, DU-28 and KI-16 records queried from our own data).

• A Manual of Acupuncture (p. 354): On the lower abdomen, 1 cun below the umbilicus, 4 cun superior to the superior border of the symphysis pubis, 0.5 cun lateral to the midline (Yinjiao REN-7). See location note for Henggu KID-11.
• Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion (p. 195): 1 cun below the umbilicus, 0.5 cun lateral to Yinjiao (REN-7).

How is KI-15 Zhong Zhu needled?

Our own record states perpendicular insertion of 0.5–1.0 inch, with moxibustion applicable. What follows is a neutral record of what the reference literature documents. It is not instruction, and this page does not teach technique.

• Angle and depth as recorded: perpendicular, 0.5–1.0 inch.
• Moxibustion: recorded as applicable.
• Regional anatomy: the point overlies the lower abdominal wall (rectus abdominis and sheath); deep to it lies the small intestine, and in pregnancy the enlarging uterus rises into the region; the inferior epigastric vessels run in the abdominal wall.

Hazard, stated plainly. As with the whole lower-abdominal run, the consideration is the organs beneath — bowel, and in pregnancy the uterus; deep or careless needling of the lower abdomen in pregnancy is specifically to be avoided. Our record carries no arterial caution at KI-15, and it is not among the nine points that do. Not a point for self-treatment.

What is not claimed. No study measuring a safe depth at KI-15 could be located, and none is borrowed. No case report naming KI-15 was located.

Source: Sacred Lotus sources & references (needling record, retained unchanged; the nine arterial cautions queried from our own data), cross-referenced against multiple online sources; regional anatomy from standard anatomical description.

Is there research on KI-15, and what should a reader know?

No trial isolates KI-15. Where the point appears it is one component of a protocol, and a study that includes a point in a protocol is not evidence about that point.

What this page can state with confidence. KI-15 Zhong Zhu is a lower-abdominal Kidney point and a Meeting Point with the Penetrating (Chong) vessel, distinguished within the run by an intestine-regulating emphasis — constipation and abdominal pain sit alongside menstrual irregularity in its short indication list. It is one half of a genuine name collision: KI-15 Zhong Zhu (Central Flow) is a different point from SJ-03 Zhong Zhu (Central Islet) on the hand. It sits 1 cun below the navel, paired with REN-7.

A note on searching for it. “KI 15”, “K 15”, “KID 15” and “Zhongzhu” searches are actively ambiguous — “Zhong Zhu” names two different acupuncture points (KI-15 and SJ-03). Any claim attached to “Zhong Zhu” must be checked against which of the two a source means.

Source: Sacred Lotus sources & references (classification, action, indication and location records; both Zhong Zhu points and the Kidney–Penetrating-vessel run queried, against our own data).