# ST21 Liangmen (Ridge Gate) – Stomach Meridian

梁門 · liáng mén

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

Cautions: Avoid in acute abdominal conditions.

Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/points/st21

## Indications

An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Poor Appetite, Poor Appetite, Benefit Regulate Jiao Middle, Benefit Regulate Qi, Stomach Rumbling, Stomach Rumbling, Qi Deficiency, Qi Deficiency, Diarrhea, Diarrhoea Slippery, Diarrhoea Slippery, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Bloating, Pain, Upper Stomach Pain, Upper Stomach Pain, Regulate Jiao Middle, Regulate Qi, Stagnation, Qi Below Chest Stagnation, Qi Below Chest Stagnation, Qi Costal Lateral Stagnation, Qi Costal Lateral Stagnation, Undigested Food in Stool, Undigested Food in Stool, Vomiting

## Most often selected alongside ST21

Sourced protocols in the index pairing each point with this one. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

- CV12 (Stomach Centre) – 17 protocols
- ST25 (Celestial Pivot) – 16 protocols
- ST36 (Leg Three Miles) – 16 protocols
- CV04 (Original Qi Gate) – 11 protocols
- CV06 (Sea Of Qi) – 11 protocols
- PC06 (Inner Gate) – 8 protocols
- LV03 (Great Surge) – 7 protocols
- SP06 (Three Yin Intersection) – 7 protocols

## Protocols using ST21

| Symptoms | Points | Course | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypertension, Obesity Abdominal, Hyperglycemia, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Metabolic Syndrome | ST21, ST25, ST36, SP15, GB26, CV05, CV10, CV12 | 84 days | doi:10.1155/2017/8598210 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 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 | 18 days | doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000009309 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 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 | 30 days | doi:10.1155/2020/2367610 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 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 | 22 days | doi:10.1155/2021/6649331 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Obesity Abdominal | ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST28, SP15, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV10, CV12 | 1 days | doi:10.1111/jocd.70718 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Vomiting, Nausea Vomiting | LI04, ST21, ST36, PC06, LV03, CV12 | 3 days | doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Vomiting, Nausea, Belching, Dyspepsia, Ischemic Stroke, Stroke Ischemic Sequela, Dyspepsia Post-stroke | ST21, ST25, CV06, CV12 | 14 days | doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240185 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 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 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Gastroparesis Postoperative, Digestive Tract Tumor Postoperative | ST21, ST25, ST36, CV12, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11 | 14 days | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250528-k0002 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Vomiting, Nausea, Chemotherapy Nausea | LI04, ST21, ST36, PC06, LV03, CV12 | 30 days | doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Obesity, Overweight | ST21, ST25, SP09, SP14, SP15, BL20, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV12 | 56 days | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230219-k0001 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced | ST21, ST25, ST36, PC06, CV04, CV06, CV08, CV10, CV11, CV12, CV13 | 7 days | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230705-0001 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Obesity Abdominal, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Appetite Increased | ST21, ST40, BL20, CV04, CV06, CV12 | 84 days | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240517-k0005 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Dyspepsia, Dyspepsia Post-stroke | ST21, ST25, CV12 | 14 days | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201011-k0001 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Ileus Postoperative, Bowel Dysfunction Postoperative, Recovery Postoperative | ST21, SP15 | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220505-0002 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Vomiting, Nausea, Lung Cancer | LI04, ST21, ST36, PC06, LV03, CV12 | – | doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| Vomiting, Nausea | ST21, ST36, PC06 | 7 days | Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture – point group actions | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Spleen Qi Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency | ST21, ST31, ST32, ST33, ST34, ST36, SP03, SP05, SP06, SI06, BL20 | 7 days | Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Stomach Qi Deficiency, Stomach Qi Deficiency | ST12, ST21, ST30, BL21 | 7 days | Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Obesity Abdominal | ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 | 90 days | 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 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Obesity Symmetrical | ST20, ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, SP09, SP11, TB06, TB13, GB26, LV03, LV09, CV04, CV06, CV12 | 90 days | 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 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Gastritis Chronic Atrophic | ST21, ST36, SP06, CV04, CV12, CV17 | 30 days | 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] | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 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 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Obesity Simple | ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, SP04 | 84 days | Zhang Xiaozhe. A Clinical Survey of Acupuncture Slimming. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008; 28(2): 139-147 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| Obesity Stress-related;hyperphagia;headache;dysphoria | ST21, ST25, ST40, BL18, BL20, BL21, LV03, CV06 | 60 days | Zhang Xiaozhe. A Clinical Survey of Acupuncture Slimming. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008; 28(2): 139-147 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 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 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 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 | 7 days | sacredlotus.com | web | Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it. |

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AcuiQ-authored prose (symptom and meridian descriptions, the wiki, the auricular crosswalk) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The assembled protocol compilation is not: build on it with attribution, but do not redistribute it whole as a dataset – https://acuiq.com/terms. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms