ST21 Liangmen (Ridge Gate)

Location

4 thumb widths above the umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV12.

Indications

Conditions for which ST21 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

TCM actions

What classical sources say ST21 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Protocols using ST21

• 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 ↗)
• Hypertension, Obesity Abdominal, Hyperglycemia, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Metabolic Syndrome – ST21, ST25, ST36, SP15, GB26, CV05, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2017/8598210 ↗)
• Fatigue, Loss of Appetite, Low-back Pain, Cough Chronic Intractable, Throat Dry, Lupus Nephropathy – LU07, LI04, LI20, ST21, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP04, SP06, SI03, BL13, BL18, BL23, BL62, KD03, KD06, PC06, TB05, GB41, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV22, GV01, GV08, GV14, GV24 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000009309 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea, Abdominal Pain, Abdominal Bloating, Postprandial Fullness, Satiety Early, Gastroparesis Diabetic, Loss Of Appetite – ST21, ST25, ST36, SP06, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, PC06, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2021/6649331 ↗)
• Obesity Abdominal – ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST28, SP15, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.1111/jocd.70718 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea Vomiting – LI04, ST21, ST36, PC06, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea, Belching, Dyspepsia, Ischemic Stroke, Stroke Ischemic Sequela, Dyspepsia Post-stroke – ST21, ST25, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240185 ↗)
• Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced – LI04, ST21, ST24, ST25, ST34, ST36, SP15, PC06, CV04, CV06, CV08, CV09, CV10, CV11, CV12, CV13, CV14 (doi:10.13460/j.issn.1005-0957.2024.13.4027 ↗)
• Gastroparesis Postoperative, Digestive Tract Tumor Postoperative – ST21, ST25, ST36, CV12, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250528-k0002 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea, Chemotherapy Nausea – LI04, ST21, ST36, PC06, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 ↗)
• Obesity, Overweight – ST21, ST25, SP09, SP14, SP15, BL20, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230219-k0001 ↗)
• Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced – ST21, ST25, ST36, PC06, CV04, CV06, CV08, CV10, CV11, CV12, CV13 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230705-0001 ↗)
• Obesity Abdominal, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Appetite Increased – ST21, ST40, BL20, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240517-k0005 ↗)
• Obesity Simple – ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, SP04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
• Obesity Stress-related;hyperphagia;headache;dysphoria – ST21, ST25, ST40, BL18, BL20, BL21, LV03, CV06 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
• Dyspepsia, Dyspepsia Post-stroke – ST21, ST25, CV12 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201011-k0001 ↗)
• Ileus Postoperative, Bowel Dysfunction Postoperative, Recovery Postoperative – ST21, SP15 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220505-0002 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea, Lung Cancer – LI04, ST21, ST36, PC06, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 ↗)
• Cough – LI04, LI20, ST21, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, BL13, BL18, BL23, KD03, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV22, GV01, GV08, GV14, GV24, XH03, XH05 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000009309 ↗)
• Dyspepsia Post-stroke – ST21, ST25, CV12 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.11.003 ↗)
• Cholelithiasis – ST21, BL18, BL19, GB24, GB34, LV14, XL06 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
• Obesity – ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
• Obesity Abdominal – ST21, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST37, ST40, SP15, GB26, GB41, CV12 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
• Obesity – LI04, LI11, ST21, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP15, PC06, LV03, CV04, CV12, CVC06, CVC09, CYC01, CYC08, HCS03, IN01, TF10, TR02 (doi:10.3889/oamjms.2015.010 ↗)
• Pancreatitis Acute – ST20, ST21, ST23, SP16, KD19, CV10, CV12, CV13 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.170351 ↗)
• Metabolic Syndrome – ST21, ST24, ST25, ST36, ST40, SP09, BL20, BL25, GB26, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.1806816 ↗)
• Obesity, PCOS – ST21, ST25, ST28, ST29, ST40, SP06, SP09, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV12, XC01 (doi:10.31661/gmj.v8i0.1389 ↗)
• Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes – ST09, ST10, ST21, ST25, ST29, ST36, ST40, ST44 (doi:10.1186/s13098-024-01489-4 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea – ST21, ST36, PC06 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture – point group actions)
• Spleen Qi Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency – ST21, ST31, ST32, ST33, ST34, ST36, SP03, SP05, SP06, SI06, BL20 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
• Stomach Qi Deficiency, Stomach Qi Deficiency – ST12, ST21, ST30, BL21 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
• Gastritis Chronic Atrophic – ST21, ST36, SP06, CV04, CV12, CV17 (赵惠. 灸法治疗慢性萎缩性胃炎体会. 中国中医药现代远程教育 ., 2012 [CNKI])
• Dyspepsia Functional – ST02, ST21, ST36 (Tan Tao et al.. [Brief analysis of professor YAN Jie's academic thought on functional dyspepsia treated with acupuncture and moxibustion].. Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, 2016)
• Gastroptosis – ST21, CV14 (Wu Zhong-Chao et al.. [Professor Qiu Mao-Liang's theory of "three benefits" of acupuncture for diseases of digestive system].. Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, 2012)
• Obesity – ST21, ST25, ST36, HT07, PC06, LV03, LV13, CV12, GV20, CYC01, TF10 (Woźniak Piotr et al.. [The effectiveness of low-calorie diet or diet with acupuncture treatment in obese peri- and postmenopausal women].. Ginekologia polska, 2003)
• Gastroptosis, Epigastric Pain – ST21, ST23, ST36, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12 (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
• Numbness, Multiple Sclerosis, Limb Weakness – ST21, ST25, ST36, SP06, SP09, BL23, BL25, BL40, BL57, GB30, CV03, CV06, CV12, GV10, GV11, XB02T5, XB02T6, XB02T7, XL10A, XL10B, XL10C, XL10D, XL10E, XL10F, XL10G, XL10H (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
• Hiccups, Epigastric Pain – ST21, CV12 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Belching, Acid Regurgitation, Epigastric Pain – ST21, ST25, PC05, LV03, CV12 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Belching, Acid Regurgitation, Epigastric Pain – ST21, PC05, LV03, CV13 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Spasm Muscle – ST21, ST25, ST36, ST41 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Spasm Muscle – ST21, ST25, ST40, ST44 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Spasm Muscle – ST21, ST25, ST36, KD06 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Abdominal Pain, Spasm Muscle – ST21, ST25, ST41 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Vomiting, Dysphagia – ST21, ST36, SP06, BL21, PC06, CV12, CV17, CV22 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Abdominal Pain, Perforation Stomach – ST21, ST25, ST36, PC06, CV12 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Qi Stagnation, Stasis Blood, Paralysis (infant), Benefit Regulate Yin, Benefit Regulate Wei, Paralysis Abdominal, Qi Stagnation, Stasis Blood, Paralysis (infant), Benefit Regulate Yin, Benefit Regulate Wei, Paralysis Abdominal – ST21, ST25, GB26, CV04 (sacredlotus.com ↗)

Most often selected alongside ST21

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with ST21. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• ST25Celestial Pivot32 protocols
• CV12Stomach Centre30 protocols
• ST36Leg Three Miles28 protocols
• CV04Original Qi Gate16 protocols
• CV06Sea Of Qi15 protocols
• ST40Abundant Bulge13 protocols
• LV03Great Surge12 protocols
• PC06Inner Gate12 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection12 protocols
• GB26Girdle Vessel8 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley8 protocols
• SP15Great Horizontal8 protocols

Other points on the Stomach Meridian