Kidney 23 (KI 23) Shen Feng — Spirit Seal

This point, on the chest, unbinds the chest, descends rebellious qi and benefits the breast.

Kidney 23 (KI 23) Shen Feng 神封 — Spirit Seal

Location

On the chest, in the fourth intercostal space, 2 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

Anatomy

On pectoralis major; the fourth intercostal artery; the anterior cutaneous branch of the fourth intercostal nerve.

Actions & Functions

  • Unbinds the chest and descends rebellious qi
  • Benefits the breast

Indications

Cough and asthma, fullness and pain of the chest, mastitis, and poor appetite with vomiting.

Needling

0.3-0.5 cun, oblique or transverse insertion.

Moxibustion Suitability

Suitable for moxibustion.

Point Combinations

With REN-17 for chest fullness.

Classical Text References

Used for disorders of the chest and breast.

Cautions & Contraindications

Deep perpendicular insertion risks pneumothorax; needle obliquely or transversely.

Latest Research

Latest peer-reviewed research on this point will be summarised here, with citations linked to PubMed, via our research integration.

About Attilio

Doctor of Chinese medicine, acupuncture expert and author of My Fertility Guide and My Pregnancy Guide.

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PubMed research

Acupuncture Shows Sustained Benefits for Chronic Daily Headache Prevention in Adults, Meta-Analysis Finds

Research summary (Acupuncture): Utility of Acupuncture Therapy for Adult Chronic Daily Headache Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. - Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2026.