CV12 (Zhongwan) – Moxibustion Acupoint Reference

Location

CV12 is located on the midline, 4 cun (about 6 finger-widths) above the center of the navel, halfway between the navel and the xiphoid process.

Clinical Indications for Moxibustion

• Digestive disorders: Gastritis, bloating, nausea, acid reflux, peptic ulcer
• Weight management: Reduces appetite and improves metabolic function
• Spleen Qi deficiency: Poor appetite, loose stools, fatigue after eating
• Pain relief: Epigastric pain, abdominal cramping

Evidence Summary

A 2020 RCT found CV12 moxibustion significantly improved functional dyspepsia symptoms (91.2% effective vs 73.5% controls, p<0.05). A 2017 meta-analysis reported that moxibustion at CV12 and ST36 reduced abdominal bloating scores by 42% and improved gastric emptying time in patients with gastroparesis.

Related Articles

• Complete Guide to Moxibustion Acupoints
• How to Do Moxibustion at Home
• All Acupoint References

References

1. Chen H, et al. Moxibustion at CV12 for functional dyspepsia: an RCT. World J Gastroenterol. 2020;26(34):5178-5188. PubMed
2. Zhang L, et al. Moxibustion for gastroparesis: meta-analysis of abdominal acupoints. Complement Ther Med. 2017;35:17-24. PubMed