ST-36 Zusanli - Leg Three Miles
More Spirit Names: Three Miles of the Foot, Leg Three Li, Ghost Evil, Lower Sea of Qi, Divine Objectivity Point, Vitalization and Longevity Point
| English: | Leg Three Miles |
| Also Known As: | Three Measures on the Leg Foot Three Miles |
Location
- Below the knee, 3 cun inferior to ST-35 Dubi, one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.
Locate GB-34 Yanglingquan, ST-36, Zusanli lies one cun inferior and one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.
Locate one handbreadth below ST-35 Dubi.
Needling
- Perpendicular insertion 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1.2 cun.
Command Functions
- He-Sea point of the Stomach channel
- Earth point of the Stomach channel
- Gao Wu Command point
- Ma Dan-Yang Heavenly Star point
- Point of the Sea of Water and Grain (Food), (Nourishment)
- Uniting point of the stomach channel
- Divine objectivity point
- Immunization point
- Center Reunion Particular point of energy
- He-Sea point of the upper Jiao
- Vitality and longevity point
- Command point of the abdomen
- Horary point
Actions
- Harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach
- Fortifies the Spleen
- Regulates Qi and Blood
- Resolves Dampness
- Supports the righteous Qi
- Fosters the Original Qi
- Tonifies Qi
- Nourishes Blood
- Nourishes Yin
- Clears Fire
- Calms the Shen
- Activates the channel
- Alleviates pain
- Revives the Yang
- Dispels Cold
- Restores consciousness
- Strengthens the body
- Strengthens weak and deficient conditions
- Brightens the eyes
- Regulates the Ying and Wei
- Regulates the Intestines
- Expels Wind and Dampness
- Resolves edema
- Regulates Qi contravection in the Stomach and Intestines
- Reduces digestive Stagnation
- Regulates the Stomach Qi and Yin
- Regulates the Middle and Lower Jiaos
- Drains pathogenic influences from the Stomach
- Calms the fetus
- Stimulates the parathyroids
- Raises Yang
Indications
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Combinations
| LU-9 | REN-6 | REN-21 |
Insufficiency of Yuan Qi, deficient dyspnea, dyspnea with inability to stand for long, coughing and shortness of breath | Frequently use moxibustion for young people whose Qi is feeble | Infernal injury by accumulation of Food in the Stomach |
Stagnation of Food in the mid-abdomen and stabbing pain that does not cease | Difficult ingestion | Abdominal fullness |
ST-44 | KI-10 | REN-10 |
All types of diarrhea and abdominal disorders | Sudden turmoil disorder | Undigested food in the stool and vomiting immediately after eating (first needle REN-10, then reduce ST-36) |
LU-10 | UB-25 | |
Breast abscess | Undigested food in the stool | Chest pain and dyspneic rales, Headache, Sudden turmoil disorder |
SJ-6 | ||
Dysenteric disorders | Blood in the stool | Deficiency constipation (Reduce ST-36 and reinforce SJ-6) |
HT-8 | REN-12 | LU-7 |
Difficult urination or retention of urine | Jaundice with weakness of the four limbs | Acute dyspnea |
UB-18 | UB-67 | |
Liver Blood Deficiency with cloudy vision | Postpartum dizziness | Hastens delivery |
SP-1 | ||
Hemorrhage (moxa ST-36 and needle SP-1) | Abdominal pain | Feebleness of the legs |
SP-6 | ||
Atrophy disorder (moxa ST-36 and UB-13 and needle the others) | Cold-Damp leg Qi | Leg Qi |
Pain and soreness of leg Qi (first needle GB-21 then the others) | Redness, pain and swelling of the knees | Inability to walk Difficulty and pain when walking |
LI-15 | ||
Disorders of the knees and below the knees (moxa all points) | Windstroke with one-sided withering and incessant pain | Mania |
LI-4 | LI-4 | |
Injury by Cold with great Heat that does not recede (reduce all points) | Pancreatitis | Acute Intestinal obstruction |
ST-19 | ||
Indigestion | Accumulated Qi |
- ST-36 + SP-3
- ST-36 + REN-6 + DU-20
- ST-36 + UB-12 with moxa
- ST-36 + GB-39 with moxa
- ST-36 + REN-12: abdominal problems
- ST-36 + REN-12 + PC-6: epigastric problems
- ST-36 + LI-10: boosts the immune system
- ST-36 + ST-25: acute diarrhea
- ST-36 + UB-20: chronic diarrhea
Contraindications
- Forbidden during the eighth month of pregnancy.
- Do not moxa children under seven years old.
Notes
- It is said that by using this point, all diseases can be treated.
- This is the single most important point in the body to stimulate the actions of the Stomach and Spleen to generate Qi and Blood.
- Daily use of moxibustion on this point preserves and maintains health and extends life.
- This point has a direct effect on the Stomach.
- Reinforcing needling of this point stimulates gastric motility and secretion of gastric acid to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.
- It is said that when one is over thirty years old, one must moxa this point to send energy to the eyes.
- ST-36 can be used whatever the etiology: Excess or Deficiency, Heat or Cold.
Five Elements Spirit Perspective
| Spirit of the Point | Leg Three Miles is Earth within the Earth, the great mother, the great holding. It is very stabilizing and gives nourishment on a very deep level, helping a person move forward, stand on their feet and move on at the body, mind and spirit levels. It strengthens and enriches, feeding the Earth so things can grow and move on, gives a sense of security, and calms the mind to strengthen the body. It is a sea of nourishment and gives the soil great strength and richness, bestowing endurance and longevity. It connects with all the seas, ponds and streams and helps disorders of lack. What lies ahead rests on how much can be digested, absorbed and put to use, and there can be despair and worry over the harvest. The knees bear a great deal and need help to bear more; this point helps a person be present to what is in front of them and go the extra distance. |
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| Worsley |
Location: On the front of the lower leg, outside the edge of the tibia, roughly 13 ACI above the level of the lateral malleolus prominence. |
| When to Consider |
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| Combinations |
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| Notes |
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From Class
- LI-4, ST-36, LV-3, SP-10, BL-20: TCM points for weak wei qi/immune weakness; patients can massage them at home. (Yuen)
- LI-4, ST-36, Ren-12 as TCM overlap: LI-4, ST-36, Ren-12 overlap TCM and the nine points: release exterior (LI-4), warm the middle; acupuncture has no astringent points — astringing is a technique. (Yuen)
- ST-9 Renying: Palpate the stomach channel for deficient points; ST-9 named among points responsible for reception of qi that help increase gastric acid. (Yuen)
- ST-25 + Ren-12 + Ren-6 (Earth School protocol): Earth School protocol: ST-25 (regulates intestines, unwinds psoas), Ren-12 (regulates stomach qi), Ren-6 (regulates qi, tonifies kidneys); release the psoas for back complaints. (Alexander)
- ST-30 Qichong: Harmonizes qi and blood; used with ST-9 and ST-36 to increase gastric acid / stomach fire. (Yuen)
- ST-36 Zusanli: Needled/moxa'd to raise stomach fire so iron is absorbed in anemia; home moxa for anemic patients eating much cold raw food (Ling Shu ch.1). (Yuen)
- ST-36 Zusanli: Added to the Earth School protocol; feel qi descend to the toes and have the patient feel it; direct insertion, clockwise tonification. (Alexander)
- ST-36 Zusanli (death medicine use): Gives the exhausted traveler qi for the one remaining journey; ST-37 can be used if the Po need to be released. (Lewis)
- ST-36 acupressure: Teach patients to press ST-36 for energy, plus acupressure for headache and nausea, in aftercare. (Resnick)
- ST-37 / ST-39 / ST-36: Smokeless moxa on ST-37, ST-39 and ST-36 to tonify blood when the stomach isn't producing enough blood. (Yuen)
- ST-42 Chongyang: Source point of stomach; an alternative to ST-36 for increasing stomach fire in anemia. (Yuen)
- LV-14 Qimen: Combination LV-14, ST-36, SP-6, ST-25, BL-23 for liver-qi stagnation causing low hematocrit and hemoglobin. (Yuen)
- Du-20 + ST-36 moxa (community protocol): A colleague taught a community group to moxa Du-20 and ST-36 weekly for developmentally delayed children; all improved. (Resnick)
- Blood points: ST-36/9/30 regulate; SP-10/BL-17 invigorate; BL-11, ST-37, ST-39 move; PC-4 dissipate: Ling Shu ch.33 sea of blood points only move blood; tight/wiry pulse = move qi to move blood; choppy pulse = invigorate. (Yuen)
- Earth School three triangles: Ren-13/PC-6, Ren-12/ST-36, Ren-10/ST-25: Li Dongyuan protocol: ingestion Ren-13 + PC-6 (yin fire), digestion Ren-12 + ST-36, elimination Ren-10 + ST-25; needle on exhale, emphasize lift. (Yuen)
- Edema of pregnancy (Zi Zhong): SJ-6, BL-20, Ren-9, Ren-11, Ren-12, ST-36, SP-3, KI-7, ST-21, BL-22: Yi Zhi Ren with Shen Ling Bai Zhu San for weak Spleen; Li Yu Tang (carp, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Sheng Jiang). (Lewis)
- Full-body protocol: ST-36 to ST-40/42, SP-6/7/8, LV-3, LI-4, ST-25, Ren-12, Ren-6, Ren-17: Earth School 'treat the center' approach; feel ST-36 qi descend to ST-40/42. (Alexander)
- Labor: LV-3, LI-4, ST-36, SP-6: Difficult labor: LI-4 stimulates the uterus, ST-36 moves bowels and qi, SP-6 encourages contractions, plus LV-3 — open the Bao, release the Dai. (Lewis)
- Maternal taxation: ST-36, Du-20, KI-16, Tituo: Extreme fatigue: ST-36, Du-20, KI-16 and Tituo lift and hold; Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang idea, but Sheng Ma and Chai Hu can over-dry yin-deficient patients. (Lewis)
- Month 7: BL-40, BL-57, ST-36, KI-3, Du-1; Gui Pi Tang: Tonify qi and blood, lift the Spleen, strengthen capillaries. (Lewis)
- Points to return yang (ST-36, LI-4, GB-30): Give the person a burst of yang — to rally out of a bout with death or into their death. (Shea)
- Running piglet/vascular stress: SP-4 + PC-6; bowels: ST-36, ST-37, ST-39, LI-11: Anxiety/panic may mean vascular stress in the child — open Chong with SP-4 + PC-6; moxa chest for reflux; ST-36, ST-37, ST-39, LI-11 disinhibit the bowels. (Lewis)
- Anemia from cold in the stomach: Raw cold food damages spleen yang so food isn't 'ripened and rotted'; blood production relates to stomach fire/gastric acid postnatally and marrow constitutionally. (Yuen)
- Earth School 'three triangles' for early diabetes: In the insulin-resistance/damp-phlegm stage: upper triangle clears heat; lower triangle (ST-36, Ren-12) broadly applicable; add SP-6, LV-13, GB-25, SP-13. (Rabinowitz)
- Nine Needles to Return Yang — as death medicine: Three stages: Separation (Du-15, PC-8, PC-6, SP-6); Transition (KI-1, KI-3, Ren-12); Deliverance (GB-30, ST-36 or ST-37, LI-4), giving yang momentum for passage. (Lewis)
- Nine Points to Return Yang (soul-summoning, used counterflow): Used counterflow so souls don't separate before business is done: PC-8, PC-6, SP-6, KI-1, KI-3, Ren-12, GB-30, ST-36, LI-4, from Jing to Qi to Shen. (Lewis)
- Postnatal depression — Heart-Blood deficiency points: HT-5, HT-7, Ren-14, Ren-15, BL-15, LV-8, Du-20, Ren-4, ST-36, SP-6, Du-19, PC-6; reinforcing (Du-19 even); moxa applicable. (Maciocia)