ST28 Shuidao (Waterway)
水道shuǐ dàoShuidao
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26
Indications
92
Protocols
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Location
3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.
Cautions
Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.
Indications
Conditions for which ST28 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
Uterine and Menstrual ConditionsCold BladderCold KneeCold ThighCold UterusConstipationShan DisorderAbdomen Inferior BloatingMenstrual CrampsFibroids / Masses Jia UterusFibroids Masses Jia UterusAbdomen Inferior FullnessHeat Binding SanjiaoInfertilityEdemaBack PainBack Lumbar Period PainBack Lumbar Period / Menstruation PainGenital PainLower Abdominal PainShoulder PainLumbar Spine PainRetention Dead FoetusRetention PlacentaUrinary Retention Stagnation
TCM actions
What classical sources say ST28 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.
Benefit BladderBenefit Regulate Jiao LowerBenefit UterusRegulate Jiao Lower
Protocols using ST28
The 50 best-sourced of 92, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.
- Dysmenorrhea Primary – ST28, BL20, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗)
- Obesity Abdominal – ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60005-4 ↗)
- Obesity Symmetrical – ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60005-4 ↗)
- Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual Pain, Mood Changes, Damp-heat Lower-jiao – LI11, ST28, ST29, ST40, SP06, SP09, BL22, BL32, GB34, LV02 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep239 ↗)
- Anxiety, Night Sweats, Infertility Female, Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness, Mood Swings, Amenorrhea Premature, Menopause Premature – ST25, ST28, ST29, ST36, SP06, BL32, KD03, GB13, LV03, CV03, CV04, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1155/2014/718675 ↗)
- Urinary Retention Postoperative, Incontinence Urinary Postoperative, Bladder Dysfunction Sensory Loss Postoperative, Urinary Tract Infection Postoperative – ST28, ST36, SP06, MS04 (doi:10.1155/2014/802134 ↗)
- Obesity, Overweight – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0867-y ↗)
- Obesity, Overweight, Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP15, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1038/nutd.2016.16 ↗)
- Overweight, Obesity Postpartum, Weight Retention – ST25, ST28, ST40, SP06, SP15, CV09 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000004716 ↗)
- Abdominal Distention, Abdominal Pain, Urinary Retention Postpartum – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, BL67, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.1155/2018/2072091 ↗)
- Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Lower-abdominal Pain, Lower-back Pain, Menstrual-irregularity, Blood-clots Menstrual, Leucorrhea, Infertility Risk – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.003 ↗)
- Obesity Abdominal, Bmi Elevated, Waist Circumference Elevated – ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, GB26, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2019/9714313 ↗)
- Fatigue, Edema, Obesity, Obesity Abdominal, Weight Gain, Amenorrhea Post-pill, Digestion Poor – ST28, SP14, CV04 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016996 ↗)
- Dysmenorrhea Primary, Menstrual Pain, Pelvic Pain – LI04, ST28, ST36, SP10, BL20, BL32, BL54, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2019/7978180 ↗)
- Urinary Retention, Voiding Dysfunction Postoperative, Voiding Dysfunction Postpartum – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, KD03, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2020/2520483 ↗)
- Overweight, Obesity Simple, Bmi Elevated – LI04, LI11, ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST27, ST28, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, ST44, SP04, SP06, SP09, SP14, SP15, SP16, BL20, BL21, TB06, GB26, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV07, CV09, CV10, CV12, CV13 (doi:10.1155/2020/2367610 ↗)
- Osteoarthritis Knee, Knee Post-surgical Pain, Recovery Post-surgical Knee-replacement – ST28, ST34, ST36, SP09, SP10, BL38, GB28, GB29, GB34, CV03 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000024941 ↗)
- Obesity, PCOS, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Hyperandrogenism, Oligoanovulation – ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, CV03, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1155/2021/5555028 ↗)
- Fatigue, Vomiting, Nausea, Anemia, Epigastric Pain, Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced, Chemotherapy Side Effects, Cancer Gastric, Loss Of Appetite, Fatigue Chemotherapy-induced, Cancer Gastric Advanced – ST28, ST29, ST36, SP08, SP10, SP15, PC06, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1155/2022/8701779 ↗)
- Nocturia, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Urination Urgency, Urination Hesitancy, Urination Slow Stream, Urination Frequency – ST28, BL23, BL28, CV03, CV06 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030925 ↗)
- Constipation, Obesity Abdominal, Defecation Impaired – ST22, ST25, ST28, GB26, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.201042 ↗)
- Fatigue, Anxiety, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Depression, Insomnia, Photophobia, Neck Stiffness, Phonophobia, Headache Medication-overuse, Chronic Migraine, Chronic Daily Headache, Head Throbbing Pain – LI04, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST40, SP09, SI03, BL10, TB05, TB17, GB04, GB08, GB15, GB18, GB20, GB34, GB41, GB43, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30417 ↗)
- Obesity Abdominal, Dyslipidemia, Waist Circumference Elevated, Waist Circumference Increased – ST24, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP14, SP15, GB26, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.2147/DMSO.S551806 ↗)
- Obesity Abdominal – ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST28, SP15, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.1111/jocd.70718 ↗)
- Cough, Fatigue, Chest Pain, Dyspnea, Anorexia, Pleural Effusion Malignant – ST28, BL13, BL20, BL23, CV04, CV17 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230821 ↗)
- Dysuria, Nocturia, Urinary Frequency, Urinary Urgency, Urinary Hesitancy, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Incomplete Bladder Emptying – ST28, CV02, CV04 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000020376 ↗)
- Obesity, Overweight, Insulin Resistance, Menstrual Irregularity, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, KD07, KD13, GB34, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s40814-020-00591-4 ↗)
- Dysmenorrhea, Cramping, Abdominal Pain, Menstrual Pain, Pelvic Pain – ST28, SP06, BL54 (doi:10.2147/IJWH.S264023 ↗)
- Obesity, Overweight, Food Craving – ST25, ST28, ST36, SP15, BL20, KD14, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2024.101050 ↗)
- Joint Pain, Abdominal Pain, Bleeding Rectal, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diarrhea Chronic – LI04, ST23, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST27, ST28, SP03, SP04, SP05, KD02, KD03, KD04, KD05 (doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101080 ↗)
- Bladder Dysfunction Neurogenic, Urinary Incontinence Stress, Prostate Disease – ST28, BL54 (doi:10.53469/jcmp.2025.07(05).06 ↗)
- Spleen Deficiency, Obesity Simple, Spleen Deficiency Damp Obstruction, Dampness-obstruction – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP14, TB06, GB26, LV03, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.27253/d.cnki.gnjzu.2025.000776 ↗)
- Spleen Deficiency, Obesity Abdominal, Dampness Accumulation, Spleen Deficiency With Dampness Accumulation – ST25, ST28, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP14, SP15, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.26922/d.cnki.ganzc.2025.000566 ↗)
- Dysuria, Urinary Frequency, Urinary Urgency, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms – ST28, ST36, SP06, CV02, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2024.000579 ↗)
- Urinary Retention Postoperative, Urinary Retention Post-hemorrhoidectomy – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL28, BL57, KD03, CV03, CV04, CV06, CV08 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.024179 ↗)
- Urinary Retention Post-stroke – ST28, SP06, SP09, BL28, BL32, BL33, BL34, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.023135 ↗)
- Constipation Post-stroke – ST25, ST28, SP14, SP15 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2008.01.003 ↗)
- Urinary Incontinence, Stroke Sequelae Post-cerebral Infarction – ST28, SP06, PC06, CV06, GV26 (doi:10.13460/j.issn.1005-0957.2018.13.0253 ↗)
- Urinary Retention – LI04, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL22, BL23, BL28, BL32, BL54, KD03, LV03, CV02, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2013.23.017 ↗)
- Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Uterine Myoma, Uterine Fibroids, Uterine Fibroids – ST28, ST29, SP06, LV03 (doi:10.1002/ccr3.72011 ↗)
- Infertility, Ovarian Cysts, PCOS, Hirsutism, Anovulation – LU07, LI04, ST28, ST29, ST36, SP04, SP06, SP10, KD06, PC06, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, XC01 (doi:10.1002/hsr2.72673 ↗)
- Urinary Retention, Urinary Retention, Urinary Problems, Urinary Retention Postpartum – ST28 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230603-k0001 ↗)
- Urinary Incontinence Stress, Incontinence Stress Urinary – ST28, BL33, BL35, BL54, KD12, CV04 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240408-k0001 ↗)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Hyperplasia Prostate Benign, Urinary Symptoms Lower Tract, Overactive Bladder – ST28, ST36, SP06, CV02, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240322-k0003 ↗)
- Obesity, Overweight, Phlegm-dampness – ST24, ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, GB26 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240610-k0004 ↗)
- Obesity – ST25, ST27, ST28, SP15, KD13, KD14, CV04, CV05 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
- Obesity – LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
- Obesity – ST25, ST28, ST36, SP15, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
- Obesity Simple – ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, SP04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
- Obesity – ST25, ST28, ST36, ST37, SP06, BL20, BL21, BL23, KD03, TB06, LV13, CV04, CV07, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Most often selected alongside ST28
How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with ST28. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.
- SP06Three Yin Intersection51 protocols
- CV04Original Qi Gate44 protocols
- ST25Celestial Pivot43 protocols
- ST36Leg Three Miles43 protocols
- CV06Sea Of Qi35 protocols
- CV12Stomach Centre27 protocols
- CV03Central Pivot24 protocols
- SP09Yin Mound Spring24 protocols
- LV03Great Surge21 protocols
- SP15Great Horizontal20 protocols
- LI04Junction Valley18 protocols
- CV09Water Separation17 protocols