Stomach Channel

'Liquid and solid enter the Stomach.  The five Zang and six Fu organs are replentished with Qi from the stomach'

-- Ling Shu, circa 500BC.

Boy, I don't know about you, but that sure clears things up for me!

The Stomach Meridian, or St, is Yang in polarity (being hollow), has 45 points starting just below the eye, describes a U on the face running along the jaw line and then up into the temple, then running down the chest  in line with the nipples and then down the lateral aspect of the leg and terminating on the second toe.  It connects with the Spleen channel with it's Yuan source point being St42, and Luo connecting point at St40.

Clinically it is used for:

• Disorders of the stomach, spleen and other abdominal organs
• Disorders along the channel (in the face), such as trigeminal neuralgia, toothache, facial paralysis
• Any chest or breast disorders
• abdomen and gastro-intestinal disorders, menstrual disorders
• Lower limb disorders, such as paralysis of the lower limbs

Commonly used points are:

• On the face: St1 to 8
• On the chest, St17 is prohibited at all times with all therapies (it's the nipple, don't cha know?)
• St18
• Leg: St31, 32, 34 to 41, St43 and St44.

And, here we go with the common points and what they are good for.

St1, Chengchi.  This is directly below the eyeball in line with the iris.  This is an insanely dangerous point (along with all points around the orbits of the eye), but if used correctly can cure some forms of blindness.  It is indicated for disorders of the eyelids.

St2, Szupai.  This is 0.7 cun below St1 in the infraorbital foramen.  I really, REALLY remember this point from class.  Were were in our 3rd day of needling, and we were practicing this point along with many other facial points on each other.  My partner for this particular point was rather tentative, but too strong for his own good!  He liked to measure where the point was several times before actually picking up his needle.  Then, he'd remeasure 3 or 4 more times before bringing the needle to bear.  Then, he inserted the needle, but too deeply and pinned the nerve that runs out of the foramen right onto the bone.  Oh holy cow, the stars were brightly shining!!!  Egads that hurt!  I couldn't give or take needles for the next hour of class while I recovered from the shock!

Meanwhile, this point is indicated for any eye disease, facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia.

St3 Chuliao, good for facial paralysis trigeminal neuralgia, rhinitis and tooth aches

St4 Dicang, just lateral of the corners of the mouth.  This one is good for facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, excessive salivation, cheilosis (painful cracking of the corners of the lips, also due to shortage of riboflavin, or Vitamin B2), speech difficulties, mutism, disorders of the upper teeth, anesthesia for extraction of the upper teeth.  As an aside, I just told my wife that I'd offer my services to anyone who wants to try acupuncture anesthesia to anyone in her dental clinic!

I wonder if anyone will say "yes!"

Not likely...

But it would be fun!  I am trained, after all...

St5 Daying, good for facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache, parotitis (inflammation of the main saliva glands), swelling of the cheek and trismus (inability to open the mouth)

St6 Jiache.  Motor Point, excellent for facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache, parotitis, spasm of the masseter muscle and trismus

St7 Xianguan, good for facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache and arthritis of the mandibular joint

St8 Touwei.  This is one of my favorite points as it can melt a headache or migraine in minutes.  Indicated for migraine, ophthalmoplegia (paralysis or weakness of the eye positioning muscles) and increased lacrimation


St17 Ruzhong.  Remember this one boys, as it's the nipple.  So the next time you want to impress your date, let her know that you'd like to work directly on her Ruzhongs...  Oh, did I mention this point is prohibited?  It hasn't got any clinical value, but it can improve the quality of your (ahem).

St18 On the nipple line, at the 5th intercostal space.  While good for mastitis, deficient lactation, chest pain, cough, dyspnoea (difficulty breathing or catching the breath), angina pectoris (chest pain due to lack of blood going to the heart), this, like all points on the chest and back not protected by bone, is a dangerous point.  Any dangerous point should be needled with extreme caution, if at all.  Furthermore, no stimulation is ever applied on a dangerous point, unless you enjoy lawsuits.

St21 Liangmen.  4 cun vertically above St25 and 2 cun lateral to Ren 12, this is good for acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, nausea and vomiting.  This point is especially dangerous on the right side as you can pierce a distended gall bladder.  So be bloody careful!

St25 Tienshu.  Alarm point for the Large Intestine.  Like all alarm points, this is a point that gets sore to palpation if the corresponding organ is messed up.  This one is indicated for acute and chronic gastro-enteritis, diarrhea, constipation, acute appendicitis, intestinal paralysis, paralysis of the muscles of the abdominal wall.

St29 Guilai.  This is at the meeting point of the vertical line from the anterior superior iliac spine and the horizontal line from the lower boarder of the pubic symphysis.  It's indicated for hemiplegia (weakness on one side of the body), osteoarthritis of the hip and numbness in the lower limbs.  If used for hemiplegia, use it together with Gb34, the influential point for muscles and tendons along with points in the upper limbs on the large intestine channel.

St32 Femur Futu.  This is 6 cun above the supero lateral point of the patella.  It is a motor point, as well as being good for wasting of the muscles and paralysis of the lower limbs and weakness of the quadriceps.

St34 Liangqiu, Xi Cleft Point.

Oh dear, it appears to be bed time...  Well, off I go!

Back to work...

As such, St34 can be used for acute gastro-intestinal disorders, and problems with the knee.

St35 Dubi  Local point

St36 Zusanli.  This has lots going for it.  It's one of the 6 important distal points, and it's a general tonification point (the others are Sp6 and Ren 6).  It's also a homeostatic point.  It's indicated for anything abdomen, such as gastritis, nausea, vomiting, enteritis (swelling of the small intestine, usually from bad food), diarrhea, obesity(!) (it helps limit the appetite), appendicitis, constipation, and any difficulty of the lower limbs. 

I use this point in almost every treatment, as it is so effective for so many things.  Primarily, patients benefit from the physiological improvements on homeostasis and tonification.  It is worth restating at this particular point, that the ultimate goal of acupuncture is to improve the flow of energy through the body, and when in doubt, this point can get plenty of energy moving, and sometimes, small and even large blockages can be cleared with just this point!

This point is also useful as an analgesic for the lower limbs, and for abdominal surgery.

St37 Shangjuxu, Lower He-Sea point of the Large Intestine.  Located 3 cun south of St36, this is excellent for acute appendicitis, disorders of the lower limbs and large intestinal disorders.

Note:  While St37 is good for appendicitis, the best point is Ex33, Lanwei.  It is also on the stomach channel, but only 2 cun south of St36.  It is also an alarm point, and becomes tender when the vermiform appendix is diseased.

St38.  Tiaokou  5 Cun south of St36, this point is good for one thing and one thing only:  Frozen Shoulder!  Ideally, the person is standing while this point is strongly stimulated while the person rolls the shoulder joint around.  Major improvements are seen in up to 75% of cases on the very first treatment!

St39 Xiajuxu, Lower He-Sea point for Small Intestine.  6 cun south of St36.  It's good for lower limb disorders and small intestine disorders.

St40 Fenglung, Luo Connecting point. 1 cun lateral to St38.  Good for cough, excessive sputum, epilepsy.  Here's an interesting fact:  excessive sputum and epilepsy are related in Chinese medicine!

St41 Jiexi, On the front of the ankle, between the two extensors and between the two tips of the malleoli.  This is great for ankle and soft tissue problems of the area, paralysis of the leg, foot drop (inability to raise the foot and toes), hemiplegia, varicose veins, and ulcers of the ankle area

St43 Xiangu.  Strong analgesic of the leg for surgery and lower limb, also excellent for brain surgery!  Good for local or facial edema.

St44 Neiting.  Distal point for legs, back and head.  Good distal point for toothache and excellent for pain relief in the lower legs, arthritis in joints of the foot.  Also good for abdominal pain. 

This is the best analgesic for any pain in the leg.  It is also one of the Bafing (Ex36) points.

Here's the list of all the special points on the St meridian:

St1, notable because it's dangerous
St17, forbidden point (what is this kids?  Oh yes, the nipples!)
St21, dangerous on the right side as it is situated directly over the gall bladder.  It's not good if you pop one of those...
St25, Alarm point for Large Intestine
St29, while good for lower abdominal disorders, the lower Ren channel points are preferred
St32, Motor point
St34 Xi-Cleft point
St36, Earth Point, strong tonification point, distal for entire abdomen
St37 Lower He-Sea point for Large Intestine
St38 Distal point for shoulder disorders
St39 Lower He-Sea point for Small Intestine
St40 Luo Connecting Point, distal for chest problems
St41 Fire point
St42 Yuan source point
St43 Wood point, good analgesic point, distal for face
St44 Water point, Strong analgesic point, distal for head

Energy Circulation for the Stomach

The stomach channel originates it's deep course at the supraclavicular fossa and decends in to the abdominal cavity to the stomach and the spleen.  This deep part then runs down and rejoins the superficial channel in the lower abdomen.

Syndromes of the Stomach

A:  Along the channel, mental disturbances, deviation of the eyes and mouth, sore throat, pain in the chest and abdomen, pain and paralysis in the anterior aspect of the lower limb and dorsum of the foot.

B:  The Organ Stomach:  3 main clinical manifestations

1. Retention of  fluid in the Stomach:  This is from overeating.  Manifests as distention, pain in the epigastric region, belching, regurgitation and sometimes vomiting.  The tongue will be thick and sticky.
2. Retention of fluid in the Stomach due to Cold:  This syndrome can follow exposure to cold or rain.  It can also come from eating too much cold food and liquids, or unsuitable raw foods (like infected salads.  Keep me away from those...)  Manifests as dull pain in epigastric region and vomiting of watery fluid.  A white sticky tongue coating with thready, slow pulse may occur.
3. Hyperactivity of the fire of the stomach:  This is due to overeating rich and/or spicy foods.  Manifests as burning epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting.  Red tongue with dry, yellowish coating may be present.

These syndromes point out the importance of asking about one's diet habits.  Perhaps they are eating in a way that is hurting them!

Well, that's all the news on the stomach that is fit to print for now.  See you tonight in the spleen!!!
St45 Metal point.