A cold sensation around the navel—this seemingly simple bodily perception is, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical practice, a signal that requires careful deliberation. Many people's first reaction is "cold," so they desperately consume ginger and drink hot soups, yet the results are often less than satisfactory. The reason behind this lies precisely in the essence of TCM pattern-differentiation thinking—cold is divided into "external cold" and "internal cold," and the treatment directions are entirely different. The navel is called "Shenque" in TCM, also known as Qizhong or Mingdi. It belongs to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and is a key acupoint of the Ren Mai. The ancient text Zhenjiu Jiayijing states that "the center of the navel is forbidden to needle," showing its special position in traditional acupuncture theory. Shenque is located in the middle of the abdomen, at the center of the navel. It was an important channel for the movement of qi and blood during fetal development. The ancients believed it was connected to both the pre-natal and post-natal qi of the human body, serving as the pivot for the ascending and descending of the body's qi mechanism. The surrounding area covers important organs such as the small intestine, large intestine, and stomach, and is also the convergence point of multiple meridians including the Spleen, Stomach, Kidney, and Ren Mai. What appears to be a localized cold sensation actually reflects an imbalance in the overall function of the zang-fu organs. Clinically, a cold sensation around the navel is most commonly seen in individuals with a constitution of spleen-kidney yang deficiency, but there are also cases of "pseudo-cold-deficiency" caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis, or internal retention of cold-dampness. In the latter case, if one blindly applies warming tonification, it may instead aggravate the stagnation of the qi mechanism, creating the awkward situation of "more tonification leading to more deficiency." So, how can we rationally analyze this phenomenon starting from the meridian and time theory of TCM?
Where Does the "Cold" Come From in Meridian Circulation?
To understand a cold sensation around the navel, we must first examine the meridians it is associated with. The Ren Mai originates from the lower abdomen and travels upward along the midline of the abdomen, and its meridian qi directly infuses the Shenque acupoint. The Ren Mai governs all yin of the body; if yin cold is excessive internally, the qi and blood flow of the Ren Mai becomes sluggish, and the area around the navel is naturally the first to be affected. The Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian runs along both sides of the abdomen, and its meridian qi flows downward in a favorable direction; the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian connects to the abdomen and governs the transformation and transportation of water and grain essences. When the spleen and stomach are deficient and cold, with insufficient transforming and transporting power, the middle jiao is like a cold stove—food cannot be effectively decomposed and ripened, and cold arises from within, manifesting as a persistent cold sensation around the navel. The Zusanli acupoint of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, also known as Xialing or Sanli, is located on the anterior-lateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun below Dubi, one finger-breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia. It is the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian and also the lower He-Sea point of the stomach. Traditional theory holds that the functional state of the spleen and stomach can be reflected at Zusanli, as recorded in the Lingshu · Wu Xie: "When pathogenic factors are in the spleen and stomach... all are regulated at Zusanli." The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian penetrates the spine and belongs to the kidney, and its branch travels upward to the abdomen. If kidney yang is insufficient and cannot warm and nourish the spleen earth, it will likewise lead to abdominal coldness. Guanyuan on the Ren Mai, also known as Dantian, is located on the anterior midline, 3 cun below the navel. It is the intersection point of the Ren Mai and the three Foot Yin meridians, and also the Front-Mu point of the small intestine. Traditional theory regards Guanyuan as the gathering place of the body's original yang qi, closely related to the warming function of the lower jiao. Clinically, one must first distinguish whether spleen yang deficiency or kidney yang deficiency predominates. The former is often accompanied by poor appetite and loose stools, while the latter more commonly presents with soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, and frequent nocturia. The treatment approaches for the two differ.
From the perspective of time, the Spleen Meridian is on duty during the Si hour (9–11 AM), the Stomach Meridian during the Chen hour (7–9 AM), and the Kidney Meridian during the You hour (5–7 PM). People with a cold sensation around the navel often find their symptoms worsen or improve during the corresponding hours. For example, in those with spleen yang deficiency, the cold sensation may be slightly relieved during the Si hour as yang qi gradually increases; while in those with kidney yang deficiency, the cold sensation may become more pronounced during the You hour as yin qi gradually grows. This time-related association is not mysticism but an objective manifestation of the body's qi and blood rising and declining cyclically with natural rhythms. TCM theory points out that the movement of meridian qi and blood follows the "midnight-noon ebb-flow" (Ziwu Liuzhu) pattern, with specific hours corresponding to the active periods of specific zang-fu functions. Therefore, observing the time-related characteristics of the cold sensation around the navel helps determine the core zang-fu organ involved. For instance, if the cold sensation worsens in the afternoon or at night, it is often related to insufficient yang qi of the spleen and kidney; if the cold sensation worsens after eating, it may suggest impaired qi movement in the middle jiao with internal retention of cold-dampness, rather than simple cold-deficiency.
Differentiation Approach to Daoyin and Time-Based Care
For a cold sensation around the navel, moxibustion is a commonly used method of care. As a key acupoint of the Ren Mai, Shenque requires particular caution during moxibustion. Traditional TCM holds that Shenque is forbidden for needling, and moxibustion should preferably use gentle suspended moxibustion, with the specific protocol determined by a licensed TCM practitioner based on individual constitution. Clinically, if some individuals also present with dry mouth and throat, dry and bound stools, and a red tongue with scant coating, they may have a constitution of yin deficiency with internal heat, and simple moxibustion is not appropriate, as it may easily consume and damage yin fluids. The correct approach is to first differentiate cold-heat and deficiency-excess, then decide whether to use moxibustion. For those who truly have cold-deficiency, moxibustion can serve as one of the daily care methods. However, the duration and frequency of moxibustion vary from person to person and cannot be generalized; consulting a formal medical institution is recommended.
Regarding daoyin (guided exercises), the "Regulating the Spleen and Stomach Requires Single Raising" movement in Baduanjin can indirectly promote the ascending and descending of abdominal qi through the upward and downward oppositional stretching of the upper limbs, offering some help in improving the cold sensation around the navel. However, the range of daoyin movements and breathing coordination should be progressive, and one should not pursue "heat as the standard." From the perspective of time-based care, those with spleen yang deficiency can engage in appropriate activity during the Si hour (9–11 AM), such as walking or stretching, to assist the rising of yang qi; those with kidney yang deficiency should relax body and mind during the You hour (5–7 PM), avoiding excessive fatigue so as not to further consume yang qi. It must be emphasized that these methods are not directly "treating or caring for" the condition, but rather, by following natural rhythms, they create a more favorable environment for the body's recovery.
A cold sensation around the navel is relatively common among people who spend long periods in air-conditioned environments, prefer cold and raw foods, and sit for extended periods with little movement. It is often accompanied by fatigue and lack of strength, sallow complexion, and unformed stools. The focus of care for such individuals is not "tonification" but "movement"—restoring the transforming and transporting function of the middle jiao. Clinically, simple warming tonification without attention to clearing and unblocking may instead aggravate