Acupuncture Point Mingmen (GV4)
Location:
Lie pronely or upright sitting; firstly, locate YaoyangguanGV3(GV3) on the posterior median line about the same level of iliac crest, then locate by pressing the second spinous processes above YaoyangguanGV3(GV3), in the depression of the upper side of it. Or, on the lower border of the spinous process is opposite with umbilicus.

Function:
Tonifying the kidney and supporting yang, regulating menstruation and relieving leukorrhagia, relieving rigidity of muscles and activating the collaterals.

Regional Anatomy:
Mingmen (GV4) The layer structures of the needle msertion are the same as those in YaoyangguanGV3(Yaoyangguan (GV3)).
In the superficial layer, there are the medial branches of the posterior branches of the 2nd lumbar nerve and the accompanying artery and vein. In the deep layrt, theeeare the external (posterior) vertebral venous plexus between the adjacent spinous process, the branches of the posterior branches of the 2nd lumbar nerve and the branches or tributaries of the dorsal branches of the dorsal branches of the 2nd lumbar artery and vein.

Indications:
Stiffness of the back, Lumbago, Impotence, Nocturnal Emission, irregular menstruation, Diarrhea, indigestion, and leukorrhea with reddish discharge.

Prescription:
Combined use with Tianshu (ST25) Front-Mu Point of the Large Intestine) for treatment of chronic enteritis and enterophthisis; with Quchi (LI 11) He-Sea Point) for treatment of hypertnesion; with Guanyuanshu (BL 26) Front-Mu Point of the SmallIntestine) for treatment of irregular menstruation; with Shenshu (BL23), Qihaishu (BL24), RanguKI2 (Rangu (KI2) Ying-Spring Point), and Yanggu (SI 5) Jing-River Point) for treatment of impotence; with Changqiang (GV 1) Luo-Connecting Point) and SanyinjiaoSP6 (Sanyinjiao (SP6)) for treatment of enuresis; and with Shenshu (BL23) for treatment of frequent micturition.

Methods:
Insert the needle obliquely to upward 0.5-1 cun depth; needling response: local numbness and distention, radiating downward; moxibustion: using 3-15 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 15 min.
Note:
Be careful not to injure the spinal cord when puncturing.