ST-7 Xiaguan

English:	Below the Joint
Also Known As:	Lower Hinge Lower Gate

Location

• With the mouth closed, in the hollow between the zygomatic arch and the mandibular notch.
• With the mouth slightly open, located in the depression at the inferior border of the zygomatic arch anterior to the condyloid process.
• On the face, anterior to the ear, in the depression between the zygomatic arch and the mandibular notch This point is located with the mouth closed.

Needling

• Straight insertion for trigeminal neuralgis, needle pointed slightly downward, 1.5 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness in the vicinity of the point or an electric, numb sensation extending to the lower gums.
• Slanted insertion for tempomandibular arthritis, needle directed either backward or forward, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: distentiuon and soreness extending throughout the jaw.
• Transverse insertion for toothache, needle directed toward either the upper or lower teeth in the direction of ST-6 Jiache, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness extending to the upper and lower teeth.
• Slanted insertion for ear diseases, directed toward the ear, 1.5 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness possibly extending into the ear.
• Slanted insertion for spasms of the masseter muscle, needle downward, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
• Puncture perpendicularly 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
• Moixibustion is applicable.
• Perpendicular insertion slightly inferiorly 0.5 to 1 cun.
• Transverse insertion to jkoin with such points as SI-19 Tinggong, ST-6 Jiache and ST-18 Qianliao for diseases of the ear, teeth, face and jaw.

Command Functions

• Meeting point of the Gall Bladder channel.

Actions

• Benefits the ears, jaw and teeth
• Activates the channel
• Alleviates pain
• Expels Wind from the face

Indications

Toothache Tempomandibular arthritis Spasms of the masseter muscle Facial paralysis Trigeminal neuralgia Otitis media Deaf-mutism Lockjaw Gingivitis Alveolodental pyorrhea Otorrhea Itching and purulent discharge from the ear Pain of the cheek Swelling of the cheek Yawning

Tinnitus Earache Pus in the ear Deafness Dislocated jaw Mouth and eyes awry Tempomandibular joint dysfunction Facial pain Motor impairment oft the jaw Loose teeth Hemiplegia Pain of the teeth of the lower jaw Swelling and opain of the gums of the lower jaw Visual dizziness

Combinations

LI-4 Hegu	ST-6 Jiache SJ-17 Yifeng	SJ-21 Ermen SJ-17 Yifeng SJ-3 Zhongzhu
Tempomandibular arthritis	Spasms of the masseter muscle	Deaf-mutism
LI-5 Yangxi SJ-1 Guanchong SJ-2 Yemen SI-5 Yanggu	SJ-7 Huizong SJ-17 Yifeng	ST-5 Daying SJ-17 Yifeng SI-4 Wangu
Deafness and tinnitus	Deafness	Toothache Tooth decay
GB-3 Shangguan	ST-5 Daying SJ-17 Yifeng	SJ-17 Yifeng ST-4 Dicang ST-6 Jiache ST-2 Sibai LI-4 Hegu
Deviation of the mouth and eye with hemiplegia	Yawning Pain of the lower teeth	Facial paralysis
ST-44 Neiting
Problems of the upper jaw Toothache

Contraindications

Notes

• For the treatment of facial pain and trigeminal neuralgis, this point is sometimes needled 0.5 cun anterior to its textbook location.