20
Indications
22
Protocols
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
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Location
In the 2nd intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.
Cautions
Risk of pneumothorax; avoid deep needling.
Indications
Conditions for which ST15 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
Breast AbscessArthritis SternoclavicularCoughCoughing BloodCough PusChest BloatingCostal Lateral BloatingBreathing Shortness Of Breath ProblemsShortness of BreathHeavinessItchinessItchiness SkinPainBreast PainChest PainRib PainSkin Pain SwellingLimbs WeaknessWheezing
TCM actions
What classical sources say ST15 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.
Benefit BreastsBenefit Descend Rebellion QiDescend Rebellion QiUnbind Chest
Protocols using ST15
- Lactation Deficiency, Postpartum Insufficient Milk Production – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016456 ↗)
- Breast Pain, Mastalgia Cyclic, Breast Pain Premenstrual, Mammary Gland Hyperplasia – LI04, ST15, ST18, SP06, SI11, BL17, BL18, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03779-8 ↗)
- Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (doi:10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305 ↗)
- Hypogalactia, Breastfeeding Insufficiency, Lactation Postpartum – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (doi:10.1186/s13643-025-02773-8 ↗)
- Breast Hyperplasia – LI04, ST15, ST18, ST36, SI11, GB21, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.16040/j.cnki.cn15-1101.2017.10.121 ↗)
- Chemotherapy Side Effects, Breast Cancer, Cancer-related Fatigue – LI04, LI11, ST15, ST36, SP06, SI11, BL02, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL23, PC06, TB17, GB21, GB34, LV03, CV04, CV12, CV17, GV01, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.16368/j.issn.1674-8999.2016.01.005 ↗)
- Breast Pain, Hyperplasia Mammary Glands, Distending Pain Breast, Breast Masses – LI04, ST15, ST18, ST36, SP06, SI11, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, TB05, GB21, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60047-7 ↗)
- Fibromyalgia Pain Musculoskeletal Diffuse – LI11, ST14, ST15, ST36, HT07, BL15, BL16, BL17, BL35, BL54, KD03, PC06, GB20, GB21, GB30, LV08 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30037-6 ↗)
- Lactation Insufficiency – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016456 ↗)
- Lactation Insufficiency – LI04, ST15, ST16 (doi:10.30787/gaster.v22i1.1412 ↗)
- Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Qi Stagnation – LI17, LI18, ST09, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST25, ST26, ST27, SP13, SP18, HT03, HT04, SI11, BL14, BL16, BL18, BL31, KD21, XB02T9 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
- Lung Qi Deficiency, Lung Qi Deficiency – LU01, LU02, LU09, LI20, ST14, ST15, ST36, SI11, BL13, BL42, XB02T6 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
- Breast Hyperplasia, Breast Nodule, Breast Nodules – ST15, SI11, BL18, GB21, CV17 (李秋妹郭帅良廖鹏腾戚芷琪颜智权霍志豪张保球龙翔宇. 基于中医传承辅助平台的针灸治疗乳腺增生症选穴组方规律. 世界中医药 ., 2020 [CNKI])
- Breast Pain, Breast Hyperplasia, Breast Nodules – ST15, ST18, ST36, SP10, GB34, CV17 (Zhou Lei et al.. [Effect of acupoint-catgut-embedment on mammary gland hyperplasia].. Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research, 2011)
- Mammary Gland Hyperplasia – ST15, ST36, SI11, BL18, GB21, CV17 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
- Breast Pain, Breast Hyperplasia – ST15, SP06, SI11, BL18, BL23, KD03, GB21, CV17 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
- Breast Pain, Breast Hyperplasia – LI04, ST15, ST18, GB34 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
- Breast Pain, Breast Hyperplasia – ST15, ST18, ST36, SI11, BL20, GB21 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
- Breast Pain, Breast Nodules – LI04, ST15, CV17 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
- Breast Pain, Gynecomastia – LI04, ST15, BL18, CV17 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
- Discharge Nipple Bloody, Papilloma Intraductal – LI04, ST15, ST18, ST36, BL17, BL18, BL20 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
- Macromastia – LI04, ST15, SP06, SI11, BL18, GB21, CV17 (Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011)
Most often selected alongside ST15
How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with ST15. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.
- CV17Chest Centre14 protocols
- GB21Shoulder Well13 protocols
- ST36Leg Three Miles13 protocols
- ST18Breast Root12 protocols
- SI11Heavenly Gathering11 protocols
- BL18Liver Shu Point10 protocols
- LI04Junction Valley10 protocols
- SP06Three Yin Intersection9 protocols
- ST16Breast Window6 protocols
- SP10Sea Of Blood5 protocols
- BL17Diaphragm Shu Point4 protocols
- LV03Great Surge4 protocols