Verscienta
ST36

Zusanli

Star

足三里 (Zúsānlǐ) — Leg Three Li

Stomach channel · point 36

Not yet clinically reviewed

He-Sea pointEarth pointEarth point of the Stomach channelHorary pointSea of Water and Grain pointCommand point of the abdomen

Traditionally used for

  • Dizziness
  • Digestion
  • Bowel health
  • Sleep
  • Mood & calm
  • Pain & joints
  • Heart & circulation
  • Energy & fatigue

Location

On the anterior lower leg, on the line connecting ST35 and ST41, 3 cun below ST35, over tibialis anterior (about one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia).

How to locate: Find ST35 in the lateral hollow below the kneecap, measure one hand-breadth (3 cun) down and place the middle finger against the anterior crest of the tibia: the point is in the depression one finger-breadth lateral to the crest, often level with the lower border of the tibial tuberosity. Choose the most tender spot; cupping the palm over the kneecap puts the middle fingertip roughly on it.

Regional anatomy: Beneath the skin and subcutaneous tissue the needle enters tibialis anterior and continues toward the interosseous membrane; the anterior tibial artery and deep fibular nerve run deep to the point.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, front: ST36 · Lower leg
Fig. — ST36 · Lower leg After Albinus, 1747
Body map, front: ST36 · Lower leg

ST36 · Lower leg · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

Bones of the leg — Gray's Anatomy plate
Bones of the leg Gray's Anatomy, 1918
Bones of the leg — Gray's Anatomy plate

Bones of the leg · Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position can't be carried onto the 3D model reliably (it failed a placement check). The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

  1. Perpendicular insertion
    Depth 1–1.5 cun
    skindeeper

Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.

Sources (1)
  1. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 158 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 1.0–2.0 cun
Angle: Perpendicular
Moxibustion: One of the classical points for regular tonifying moxibustion — the 'longevity point' of Japanese and Chinese tradition.

Functions

  • Tonifies qi and yang, nourishes blood and yin and strengthens the whole body
  • Harmonises the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen and resolves dampness
  • Regulates the intestines
  • Raises yang and restores collapse
  • Calms the spirit
  • Opens the channel

Indications

Any digestive complaint — epigastric pain, distension, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipationfatigue and general weaknesspoor appetitedizziness and palpitationsinsomnialeg weakness and knee painimmune support and post-illness recovery

Balance Method partners

Under Dr. Tan's six systems, ST36 at the lower leg balances these channels at the regions its segment images.

  • 1. Same Chinese name
    Large Intestine channel
    Forearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
    Upper arm · Reversed mirror
    Chest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/foot
    Upper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
    Solve for the Large Intestine channel →
  • 2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)
    Pericardium channel
    Forearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
    Upper arm · Reversed mirror
    Chest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/foot
    Upper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
    Solve for the Pericardium channel →
  • 3. Interior–exterior pair
    Spleen channel
    Lower leg, Calf · Same segment, opposite side
    Chest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/foot
    Upper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
    Solve for the Spleen channel →
  • 4. Chinese clock opposite
    Pericardium channel
    Forearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
    Upper arm · Reversed mirror
    Chest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/foot
    Upper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
    Solve for the Pericardium channel →
  • 5. Chinese clock neighbour
    Large Intestine channel
    Forearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
    Upper arm · Reversed mirror
    Chest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/foot
    Upper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
    Solve for the Large Intestine channel →
  • 6. Same channel
    Stomach channel
    Lower leg, Calf · Same segment, opposite side
    Chest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/foot
    Upper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/knee
    Solve for the Stomach channel →

Classical calendar method · 子午流注

When the tables open ST36

The hours Zi Wu Liu Zhu names this point at, by method. Times are the double-hour's start in UTC.

  • 戊子 23:00–01:00 Na Jia Fa, 庚-day sequence · He-Sea (合)

    「戊子時居三里宜」

    Next: Tue 13 Oct, 23:00

A classical reference, not a recommendation: the tables say when the method opens this point, not that it is the point to needle. Open points by the hour →

Clinical Notes

One of the four Command points: "for the abdomen, seek Zusanli." The most-used tonification point in the repertoire; with SP6 it forms the basic qi-and-blood tonifying pair.

Combinations Using This Point

Balance Method for Shoulder Pain

Anterior shoulder pain on the Large Intestine channel treated from the Stomach channel of the opposite leg, most often around ST38.

Yanglingquan and Zusanli

GB34 and ST36, He-Sea points below the knee — for digestive, hypochondriac and head complaints, cough, jaundice, enuresis and weak legs.

Miriam Lee's Ten Points

Five points needled bilaterally — LI4, LI11, ST36, SP6 and LU7 — as a single restorative prescription for the depleted, overworked patient.

Tonifying Moxibustion — CV4, CV6, ST36 and GV4

The four points that carry the classical reputation for building qi and yang — moxaed rather than needled.

Zhongwan, Neiguan and Zusanli

CV12, PC6 and ST36 — the Stomach's Mu point with forearm and leg distal points — for vomiting, abdominal pain and distension, and bowel disorders.

Similar Points

Ranked by shared patterns and conditions

Zhongwan how are these connected? (Zhongwan) Pishu how are these connected? (Pishu) Qihai how are these connected? (Qihai) Sanyinjiao how are these connected? (Sanyinjiao) Taibai how are these connected? (Taibai) Guanyuan how are these connected? (Guanyuan)

Sources

  • World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
  • Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)

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