Location
4 thumb widths above the umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the cv12.
Cautions
Avoid in acute abdominal conditions.
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.
Poor AppetitePoor AppetiteBenefit Regulate Jiao MiddleBenefit Regulate QiStomach RumblingStomach RumblingQi DeficiencyQi DeficiencyDiarrheaDiarrhoea SlipperyDiarrhoea SlipperyAbdominal BloatingAbdominal BloatingPainUpper Stomach PainUpper Stomach PainRegulate Jiao MiddleRegulate Qi StagnationQi Below Chest StagnationQi Below Chest StagnationQi Costal Lateral StagnationQi Costal Lateral StagnationUndigested Food in StoolUndigested Food in StoolVomiting
Protocols using ST21
- 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 ↗)
- 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)
- Obesity Abdominal – ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 (SUN Hong. Relation between Treatment Course and Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for Female Obesity of Different Types. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(4): 258-261)
- Obesity Symmetrical – ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 (SUN Hong. Relation between Treatment Course and Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for Female Obesity of Different Types. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(4): 258-261)
- 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)
- Obesity Simple – ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, SP04 (Zhang Xiaozhe. A Clinical Survey of Acupuncture Slimming. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008; 28(2): 139-147)
- Obesity Stress-related;hyperphagia;headache;dysphoria – ST21, ST25, ST40, BL18, BL20, BL21, LV03, CV06 (Zhang Xiaozhe. A Clinical Survey of Acupuncture Slimming. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008; 28(2): 139-147)
- 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)
- 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 ↗)