Location
In the 3rd intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.
Cautions
Risk of pneumothorax; avoid deep needling.
Indications
Conditions for which ST16 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
Breast AbscessBreast AbscessBenefit BreastsBenefit BreastsStomach RumblingStomach RumblingChillsCoughDiarrhoea WateryDiarrhoea WateryBreathing Shortness Of Breath ProblemsBreathing Shortness Of Breath ProblemsFeverChest FullnessChest FullnessRestlessness InsomniaRestlessness InsomniaLips SwellingLips SwellingWheezing
Protocols using ST16
- Hypogalactia, Breastfeeding Insufficiency, Lactation Postpartum – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02773-8)
- Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – LU01, LU02, ST13, ST14, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, CV12, CV17 (https://doi.org/10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305)
- Depression Post-stroke, Stroke Sequelae, Depression Moderate-severe – LI04, ST16, ST40, SP06, HT07, PC06, LV03, GV20, GV24, XH03 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03277-3)
- Hypogalactia, Breastfeeding Insufficiency, Lactation Postpartum – LU01, LU02, ST13, ST14, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, CV12, CV17 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02773-8)
- Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (https://doi.org/10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305)
- Wheezing – LU01, LU02, LU03, LU05, LU06, LU07, LU08, LU09, LI18, ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST19, ST20, ST40, SI17, KD03, KD04, KD19, KD22, KD23, KD24, KD25, KD26, KD27, CV15, CV17, CV18, CV20, CV21, CV22, GV10, XB01A, XB01B (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
- Chills – LU01, LU07, LU10, LI03, LI04, ST05, ST08, ST12, ST16, ST36, ST42, SP05, SI01, SI03, SI04, SI05, SI09, SI10, SI14, SI15, SI17, BL09, BL13, BL20, BL58, BL59, BL62, BL64, BL65, TB01, TB03, TB05, TB12, TB13, TB15, GB03, GB10, GB14, GB16, GB20, GB22, GB25, GB34, GB38, GB40, GB41, CV22, GV13, GV14, GV15, GV17, GV24, GV26 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
- Benefit Breasts – ST15, ST16, ST18, SP18, SI01, SI11, BL51, KD21, KD23, KD24, KD25, KD26, PC01, GB21, GB41, CV17 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
- Fever – LU01, LU07, LU10, LI03, LI04, LI05, ST05, ST08, ST12, ST16, ST36, ST42, ST43, SP01, SP05, SP09, SI01, SI03, SI04, SI05, SI07, SI10, SI14, SI15, SI17, BL09, BL11, BL12, BL13, BL16, BL17, BL20, BL22, BL30, BL31, BL40, BL41, BL42, BL43, BL44, BL45, BL46, BL47, BL58, BL59, BL62, BL64, BL65, PC01, PC06, PC07, PC08, PC09, TB01, TB02, TB03, TB05, TB09, TB10, TB12, TB13, TB15, GB03, GB10, GB16, GB20, GB22, GB25, GB34, GB38, GB40, GB41, LV14, CV22, GV04, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14, GV15, GV17, GV24, GV26, XU11A, XU11B, XU11C, XU11D, XU11E, XU11F, XU11G, XU11H, XU11I, XU11J (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
- Cough – LU01, LU02, LU03, LU04, LU05, LU06, LU07, LU08, LU09, LU10, LU11, LI01, LI05, LI13, LI18, ST10, ST12, ST13, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST19, ST36, ST40, SP05, SP14, SP17, SP18, SP19, SP20, SP21, SI01, SI02, SI11, SI15, SI17, BL11, BL12, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL16, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, BL30, BL42, BL43, BL44, BL45, BL60, BL66, KD01, KD03, KD04, KD07, KD19, KD20, KD21, KD22, KD23, KD24, KD25, KD26, KD27, PC01, PC02, PC03, PC08, TB06, TB10, GB10, GB11, GB18, GB21, GB22, GB23, GB39, GB44, LV03, LV10, LV13, LV14, CV04, CV14, CV15, CV17, CV18, CV19, CV20, CV21, CV22, CV23, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV20, XB01A, XB01B, XH15, XH27 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
- Lactation Deficiency, Postpartum Insufficient Milk Production – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000016456)
- Stomach Rumbling – LI03, LI06, LI07, LI09, ST16, ST19, ST20, ST21, ST22, ST25, ST36, ST37, ST43, ST44, SP03, SP04, SP05, SP06, SP07, SP17, BL16, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL25, BL32, BL34, BL47, BL48, BL53, KD16, KD19, PC06, GB25, LV03, LV13, CV07, CV08, CV09, CV13, GV09, XH47 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)