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ST42

Chongyang

Star

衝陽 (Chōngyáng) — Surging Yang

Stomach channel · point 42

Not yet clinically reviewed

Yuan-Source point

Traditionally used for

  • Teeth & mouth
  • Digestion
  • Mood & calm
  • Nerves & recovery

Cautions & contraindications

  • Avoid blood vessels

Location

On the dorsum of the foot, over the joint between the base of the second metatarsal and the intermediate cuneiform bone, where the dorsalis pedis artery pulses.

Focks' Atlas of Acupuncture places it at the highest point of the instep between the extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus tendons, just lateral to the dorsalis pedis pulse rather than over it.

How to locate: Slide a finger from ST43 proximally toward ST41 along the dorsum of the foot; the point is at the highest point of the instep, over the joint between the base of the second metatarsal and the intermediate cuneiform, where the dorsalis pedis pulse is felt.

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

Body map, front: ST42 · Foot
Fig. — ST42 · Foot After Albinus, 1747
Body map, front: ST42 · Foot

ST42 · Foot · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

Bones of the foot, dorsal — Gray's Anatomy plate
Bones of the foot, dorsal Gray's Anatomy, 1918
Bones of the foot, dorsal — Gray's Anatomy plate

Bones of the foot, dorsal · 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

Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:

  1. Oblique insertion
    Depth 0.3–0.5 cun
    skindeeper
  2. Perpendicular insertion
    Depth 0.3–0.5 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. 169 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

  • Avoid blood vessels
Depth: 0.3–0.5 cun
Angle: Perpendicular, avoiding the artery
⚠ Cautions: The dorsalis pedis artery lies at the point — palpate and needle to one side.

Functions

  • Clears heat from the Stomach channel
  • Harmonises the Stomach and strengthens the Spleen
  • Calms the spirit
  • Opens the channel and luo vessels

Indications

Poor appetite and abdominal distensionfacial swelling and toothachefacial paralysismaniapain and weakness of the foot

Balance Method partners

Under Dr. Tan's six systems, ST42 at the foot balances these channels at the regions its segment images.

Classical calendar method · 子午流注

When the tables open ST42

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

  • 壬戌 19:00–21:00 Na Jia Fa, 戊-day sequence · Yuan-Source (原), returning to the source

    「衝陽土穴必還原」

    Next: Wed 21 Oct, 19:00

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

Classically palpated to assess Stomach qi: a strong pulse here in an otherwise gravely ill patient was taken as a favourable sign.

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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