解谿 (Jiěxī) — Ravine Divide
Stomach channel · point 41
Traditionally used for
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Digestion
- Bowel health
- Urinary & fluids
- Mood & calm
Location
On the front of the ankle, at the centre of the ankle joint, in the depression between the tendons of extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus — at the midpoint of the line joining the prominences of the two malleoli.
How to locate: Have the patient extend the big toe against resistance so the extensor hallucis longus tendon stands out; the point is in the clear hollow just lateral to it, on the front of the ankle joint at the level of the malleolar prominences.
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:
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Perpendicular insertionDepth 0.5–0.5 cunskindeeper
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Oblique insertion — beneath the tendons to join with Shangqiu SP5 medially or Qiuxu GB40 laterally
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. 167 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Clears heat from the Stomach and Stomach channel
- Calms the spirit
- Benefits the ankle, opens the channel and alleviates pain
- Resolves dampness and dispels swelling
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, ST41 at the ankle balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
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1. Same Chinese nameLarge Intestine channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
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2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Pericardium channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Pericardium channel →
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3. Interior–exterior pairSpleen channelAnkle, Heel · Same segment, opposite sideFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Spleen channel →
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4. Chinese clock oppositePericardium channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Pericardium channel →
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5. Chinese clock neighbourLarge Intestine channelWrist · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Shoulder · Reversed mirrorFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Large Intestine channel →
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6. Same channelStomach channelAnkle, Heel · Same segment, opposite sideFront of neck, Nape of neck · Image, head at the hand/footLower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Stomach channel →
Classical calendar method · 子午流注
When the tables open ST41
The hours Zi Wu Liu Zhu names this point at, by method. Times are the double-hour's start in UTC.
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戊申 15:00–17:00 Na Jia Fa, 壬-day sequence · Jing-River (經)
「戊申時註解谿胃」
Next: Thu 15 Oct, 15:00
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巳 09:00–11:00 Na Zi Fa, ST channel · reinforce (補)
「補用巳時，解谿，為經火」
Next: Thu 15 Oct, 09:00
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 →
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
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