Almost everyone who has supported a loved one through pregnancy—whether as a mother, partner, or caregiver—knows the experience goes far beyond physical strain. Emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and mood swings can weigh just as heavily. That’s the acupoint, Rushing Gate (Chong Men, SP12), deserves attention.
Positioned on the lower abdomen, the Chong Men acupoint is especially valuable for those navigating pregnancy, recovery, or postpartum support. It also opens a window into one of traditional Chinese medicine’s (TCM) unique diagnostic concepts: fetal qi disturbance.
TCM Perspective: A Meeting Place of Vital Channels
Chong Men was first recorded in the classical medical text “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing” (“The A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion”). Its importance lies in being a convergence point of three powerful meridians: the Spleen, Liver, and the Yin Linking Vessel (Yin Wei Mai). All three are strongly associated with women’s health in TCM since they regulate blood and yin energy—two concepts central to reproductive and emotional well-being. This acupoint is a gateway to multiple systems as they work together to bring the body back to its natural internal balance during periods of great physiological change.
What Chong Men Can Help With
Chong Men is often used to support women experiencing complications related to childbirth or recovery. One of its key functions is to help stop bleeding that continues after delivery. Even more uniquely, it plays a role in addressing a condition in TCM known as “fetal qi rushing up.” This refers to a pattern of symptoms like shortness of breath, chest and abdominal tightness, irritability, and general discomfort.
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
Moreen was born into a family with a lineage of four generations of traditional Chinese medicine doctors and professors.
She was Dean of the Natural Therapies Institute in Sydney, Australia.
Drawing on her family heritage, she created a certified organic wellness brand, and co-founded the largest Chinese medical image encyclopedia online.
