KI4 Dazhong: Behind and below the inner ankle bone, find the hollow above the heel bone and immediately in front of the medial Achilles attachment. Landmark schematic; not to scale.

KI4 (Dazhong / Great Bell) Acupuncture Point Guide

October 18, 2026

Practitioner Guide from The Acupuncture Supply Co.

KI4 Dazhong belongs to the Kidney channel. This Project Lotus guide focuses on reliable surface landmarks, nearby-point distinctions and safe professional assessment.

Quick reference

Point	KI4 — Dazhong
Channel	Kidney — Foot Shaoyin
Traditional classification	Luo-Connecting
Region	Posteromedial foot
Laterality	Bilateral

Location and landmark sequence

Behind and below the inner ankle bone, find the hollow above the heel bone and immediately in front of the medial Achilles attachment.

Support the limb so the illustrated surface is accessible. Confirm the thumb or little-finger side for hand and forearm points, or the inner or outer ankle for foot points.
Palpate the named joint, bone or tendon landmarks before estimating a position.
Behind and below the inner ankle bone, find the hollow above the heel bone and immediately in front of the medial Achilles attachment.
Check the relationship to nearby points and reassess on the individual patient.

Distinguishing nearby points

KI4 is near the Achilles attachment and above the calcaneus. KI3 is higher between Achilles and the malleolar prominence.

Traditional context

Luo-Connecting is the traditional classification used here. Classification helps organise channel theory; it is not evidence that an individual point treats a particular disease. Selection depends on a complete assessment and a coherent treatment principle.

Traditional functions and applications

Within traditional East Asian medicine, this point is described in terms of kidney support; qi anchoring; lung support.

Traditionally considered for selected Kidney–Lung pattern presentations, lower-back symptoms and heel discomfort. These are historical treatment concepts, not proven disease-specific effects of this point alone. Select points from the full assessment rather than a symptom list.

Moxibustion

Moxa is not an automatic addition. Assess the treatment principle, skin condition and sensation; use appropriate training, supervision and burn prevention if heat is considered.

Anatomy and essential safety

Foot and ankle anatomy changes with swelling, injury, surgery and joint deformity. Assess vessels, sensation and local tissue; a schematic cannot establish insertion depth. Distinguish the medial tendon attachment from the heel bone itself.

Inspect skin, circulation and sensation; avoid infected, ulcerated or otherwise unsuitable tissue.
Review relevant medication, bleeding risk, pregnancy, surgery and previous reactions.
Use sterile single-use needles, appropriate infection control and safe sharps disposal.
Choose depth, angle and stimulation through accredited training and patient-specific anatomical assessment.

When assessment takes priority

A hot swollen limb with fever, new weakness, persistent numbness, significant trauma or an infected wound needs medical assessment. Acute chest pain, collapse or severe breathlessness requires emergency care; a traditional channel association must never delay referral.