ST6

Jiache

Star

頰車 (Jiáchē) — Jaw Chariot

Stomach channel · point 6

Traditionally used for

Teeth & mouth
Nerves & recovery

Location

On the cheek, one finger-breadth anterior and superior to the angle of the mandible, at the prominence of masseter when the teeth are clenched.

How to locate: With the patient seated or lying, ask them to clench the teeth; the point is at the highest bulge of the masseter about one finger-breadth anterior and superior to the angle of the mandible, and it becomes a depression when the jaw relaxes.

Regional anatomy: Beneath the skin and subcutaneous tissue the needle passes through the masseteric fascia into the masseter.

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

Body map, front: ST6 · Head & face — Fig. — ST6 · Head & face After Albinus, 1747

The skull, from the front — Gray's Anatomy plate — The skull, from the front Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position on the 3D model couldn't be checked against its location text, so it is not shown. The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:

Perpendicular insertion

Depth 0.5–0.5 cun

skindeeper
Transverse insertion — to join with such points as Dicang ST4, Daying ST5, Xiaguan ST7 etc
Transverse insertion — towards the upper or lower jaw for toothache

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. 134 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.3–0.5 cun perpendicular, or 1.0–1.5 cun threaded toward ST4

Angle: Perpendicular or transverse toward ST4

Functions

Expels wind and relieves obstruction of the jaw
Benefits the teeth and relieves facial pain
Opens the channel and luo vessels

Indications

Toothache, especially of the lower jawfacial paralysis and deviation of the mouthclenched jaw and temporomandibular disordersmumpstrigeminal neuralgia

Combinations Using This Point

Dicang, Jiache, Xiaguan and Yangbai

Dicang, Jiache, Xiaguan and Yangbai — mouth corner, jaw, joint and forehead — a four-point facial set to expel wind, stop pain and open the channels and collaterals.

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 ST6 Jiache.

No notes yet.

Back to Points