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Neijing

Knowledge baseAcupuncture points

ST-36

Zu San Li足三里

Leg Three Miles

Channel
Stomach
Classification
He-Sea, Command

Location

Three cun below ST-35, one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia, in tibialis anterior.

Needling

Perpendicular insertion 1–1.5 cun. Moxibustion is appropriate and traditionally much used here.

Actions

  • Harmonizes the stomach and strengthens the spleen
  • Tonifies qi and nourishes blood
  • Resolves dampness
  • Raises the yang and restores strength after illness

Indications

Digestive complaints of almost every kind — epigastric pain, distension, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation — along with general depletion, fatigue and weakness or pain in the leg.

Notes

The classic point for building strength rather than clearing something away, which is why it appears in so many tonifying prescriptions.