Atlas of Acupuncture

4.3 The Stomach Channel System – Foot yangming(zu yang ming jing luo)

Location

2 cun lateral to the anterior midline, 4 cun above the umbilicus

(or 4 cun below the subcostal angle).

How to find

The distance between the sternocostal angle and the centre of the

umbilicus can be divided into 8 cun, which can vary consider-

ably from the patient’s finger cun; therefore, only proportional

cun measurements should be used (helpful tool: elastic tape

➞ 2.3.1). Quick method: Find the midpoint between the

umbilicus and the sternocostal angle (➞Ren-12) by using the

spreading hands technique (➞2.3.3), then measure 2 cun in a

lateral direction to locate ST-21. Depending on the shape of the

thorax, this can be located on the lower rib cage.

Located on the same level are ➞Ren-12(anterior midline) and

➞KID-19(0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline).

Needling

Vertically 0.5–1 cun. If the correct location projects this point on

the lower ribcage, needle transversely on the rib or locate the

point more medially (or choose an alternative point). Caution:

Peritoneum, enlarged liver (on the right), pregnancy.

Actions/Indications

● Regulates the Qi, harmonises the Middle Burner, eliminates

stagnation, raises the Qi and stops diarrhoea

Special features

Important local point for distension and pain in the epigastrium

and the lateral abdomen

Beam Gate LIANGMEN ST-21

2 cun 2 cun

1/2

1/2

Ren-12

ST-21

Midline

Mamillary

line

Sterno-

costal

angle

Umbilicus

Needle in ST-21

Ren-12

4 Cun

Ren-12

KID-19 Ren-12

KID-18 Ren-11

KID-17 Ren-10

8 cun

4 cun

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