條口 (Tiáokǒu) — Ribbon Opening
Stomach channel · point 38
Traditionally used for
- Digestion
- Nerves & recovery
- Pain & joints
Location
On the anterior lower leg, on the line connecting ST35 and ST41, 8 cun below ST35, over tibialis anterior (about one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia); level with ST40.
How to locate: Place the little fingers on ST35 at the knee and ST41 at the ankle and let the thumbs meet at the midpoint (8 cun below ST35). The point is in the depression one middle-finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia at that level, level with ST40.
Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.
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
Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:
-
Perpendicular insertionDepth 1–1.5 cunskindeeper
-
Oblique insertionDepth 1–1.5 cunskindeeper
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)
- Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 163 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Activates the channel and relieves shoulder pain
- Expels wind and damp from the leg
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, ST38 at the lower leg balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
-
1. Same Chinese nameLarge Intestine channelForearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Upper arm · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
-
2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Pericardium channelForearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Upper arm · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Pericardium channel →
-
3. Interior–exterior pairSpleen channelLower leg, Calf · Same segment, opposite sideChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Spleen channel →
-
4. Chinese clock oppositePericardium channelForearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Upper arm · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Pericardium channel →
-
5. Chinese clock neighbourLarge Intestine channelForearm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Upper arm · Reversed mirrorChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
-
6. Same channelStomach channelLower leg, Calf · Same segment, opposite sideChest, Upper back · Image, head at the hand/footUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Stomach channel →
Clinical Notes
Combinations Using This Point
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.)
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on ST38 Tiaokou.
No notes yet.