ST28 Shuidao (Waterway) – acupuncture point

Location

3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.

Cautions

Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

Indications

Conditions for which ST28 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Uterine and Menstrual ConditionsCold BladderCold KneeCold ThighCold UterusConstipationShan DisorderAbdomen Inferior BloatingMenstrual CrampsFibroids / Masses Jia UterusFibroids Masses Jia UterusAbdomen Inferior FullnessHeat Binding SanjiaoInfertility Edema Back PainBack Lumbar Period PainBack Lumbar Period / Menstruation PainGenital PainLower Abdominal PainShoulder Pain Lumbar Spine PainRetention Dead FoetusRetention Placenta Urinary RetentionStagnation

TCM actions

What classical sources say ST28 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit BladderBenefit Regulate Jiao LowerBenefit UterusRegulate Jiao Lower

Protocols using ST28

The 50 best-sourced of 116, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

Dysmenorrhea Primary – ST28, BL20, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗)
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 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual Pain, Mood Changes, Damp-heat Lower-jiao – LI11, ST28, ST29, ST40, SP06, SP09, BL22, BL32, GB34, LV02 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep239 ↗)
Anxiety, Night Sweats, Infertility Female, Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness, Mood Swings, Amenorrhea Premature, Menopause Premature – ST25, ST28, ST29, ST36, SP06, BL32, KD03, GB13, LV03, CV03, CV04, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1155/2014/718675 ↗)
Urinary Retention Postoperative, Incontinence Urinary Postoperative, Bladder Dysfunction Sensory Loss Postoperative, Urinary Tract Infection Postoperative – ST28, ST36, SP06, MS04 (doi:10.1155/2014/802134 ↗)
Obesity, Overweight, Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP15, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1038/nutd.2016.16 ↗)
Overweight, Obesity Postpartum, Weight Retention – ST25, ST28, ST40, SP06, SP15, CV09 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000004716 ↗)
Abdominal Distention, Abdominal Pain, Urinary Retention Postpartum – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, BL67, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.1155/2018/2072091 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Lower-abdominal Pain, Lower-back Pain, Menstrual-irregularity, Blood-clots Menstrual, Leucorrhea, Infertility Risk – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.003 ↗)
Obesity Abdominal, Bmi Elevated, Waist Circumference Elevated – ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, GB26, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2019/9714313 ↗)
Fatigue, Edema, Obesity, Obesity Abdominal, Weight Gain, Amenorrhea Post-pill, Digestion Poor – ST28, SP14, CV04 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016996 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea Primary, Menstrual Pain, Pelvic Pain – LI04, ST28, ST36, SP10, BL20, BL32, BL54, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2019/7978180 ↗)
Urinary Retention, Voiding Dysfunction Postoperative, Voiding Dysfunction Postpartum – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, KD03, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2020/2520483 ↗)
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 ↗)
Obesity, PCOS, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Hyperandrogenism, Oligoanovulation – ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, CV03, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1155/2021/5555028 ↗)
Fatigue, Vomiting, Nausea, Anemia, Epigastric Pain, Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced, Chemotherapy Side Effects, Cancer Gastric, Loss Of Appetite, Fatigue Chemotherapy-induced, Cancer Gastric Advanced – ST28, ST29, ST36, SP08, SP10, SP15, PC06, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1155/2022/8701779 ↗)
Nocturia, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Urination Urgency, Urination Hesitancy, Urination Slow Stream, Urination Frequency – ST28, BL23, BL28, CV03, CV06 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030925 ↗)
Constipation, Obesity Abdominal, Defecation Impaired – ST22, ST25, ST28, GB26, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.201042 ↗)
Fatigue, Anxiety, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Depression, Insomnia, Photophobia, Neck Stiffness, Phonophobia, Headache Medication-overuse, Chronic Migraine, Chronic Daily Headache, Head Throbbing Pain – LI04, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST40, SP09, SI03, BL10, TB05, TB17, GB04, GB08, GB15, GB18, GB20, GB34, GB41, GB43, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30417 ↗)
Obesity Abdominal, Dyslipidemia, Waist Circumference Elevated, Waist Circumference Increased – ST24, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP14, SP15, GB26, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.2147/DMSO.S551806 ↗)
Obesity Abdominal – ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST28, SP15, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.1111/jocd.70718 ↗)
Cough, Fatigue, Chest Pain, Dyspnea, Anorexia, Pleural Effusion Malignant – ST28, BL13, BL20, BL23, CV04, CV17 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230821 ↗)
Dysuria, Nocturia, Urinary Frequency, Urinary Urgency, Urinary Hesitancy, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Incomplete Bladder Emptying – ST28, CV02, CV04 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000020376 ↗)
Obesity, Overweight, Insulin Resistance, Menstrual Irregularity, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, KD07, KD13, GB34, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s40814-020-00591-4 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea, Cramping, Abdominal Pain, Menstrual Pain, Pelvic Pain – ST28, SP06, BL54 (doi:10.2147/IJWH.S264023 ↗)
Obesity, Overweight, Food Craving – ST25, ST28, ST36, SP15, BL20, KD14, CV06, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2024.101050 ↗)
Joint Pain, Abdominal Pain, Bleeding Rectal, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diarrhea Chronic – LI04, ST23, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST27, ST28, SP03, SP04, SP05, KD02, KD03, KD04, KD05 (doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101080 ↗)
Bladder Dysfunction Neurogenic, Urinary Incontinence Stress, Prostate Disease – ST28, BL54 (doi:10.53469/jcmp.2025.07(05).06 ↗)
Spleen Deficiency, Obesity Simple, Spleen Deficiency Damp Obstruction, Dampness-obstruction – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP14, TB06, GB26, LV03, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.27253/d.cnki.gnjzu.2025.000776 ↗)
Spleen Deficiency, Obesity Abdominal, Dampness Accumulation, Spleen Deficiency With Dampness Accumulation – ST25, ST28, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP14, SP15, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.26922/d.cnki.ganzc.2025.000566 ↗)
Dysuria, Urinary Frequency, Urinary Urgency, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms – ST28, ST36, SP06, CV02, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2024.000579 ↗)
Urinary Retention Postoperative, Urinary Retention Post-hemorrhoidectomy – ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL28, BL57, KD03, CV03, CV04, CV06, CV08 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.024179 ↗)
Urinary Retention Post-stroke – ST28, SP06, SP09, BL28, BL32, BL33, BL34, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.023135 ↗)
Constipation Post-stroke – ST25, ST28, SP14, SP15 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2008.01.003 ↗)
Urinary Incontinence, Stroke Sequelae Post-cerebral Infarction – ST28, SP06, PC06, CV06, GV26 (doi:10.13460/j.issn.1005-0957.2018.13.0253 ↗)
Urinary Retention – LI04, ST28, ST36, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL22, BL23, BL28, BL32, BL54, KD03, LV03, CV02, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2013.23.017 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Uterine Myoma, Uterine Fibroids, Uterine Fibroids – ST28, ST29, SP06, LV03 (doi:10.1002/ccr3.72011 ↗)
Infertility, Ovarian Cysts, PCOS, Hirsutism, Anovulation – LU07, LI04, ST28, ST29, ST36, SP04, SP06, SP10, KD06, PC06, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, XC01 (doi:10.1002/hsr2.72673 ↗)
Urinary Retention, Urinary Retention, Urinary Problems, Urinary Retention Postpartum – ST28 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230603-k0001 ↗)
Urinary Incontinence Stress, Incontinence Stress Urinary – ST28, BL33, BL35, BL54, KD12, CV04 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240408-k0001 ↗)
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Hyperplasia Prostate Benign, Urinary Symptoms Lower Tract, Overactive Bladder – ST28, ST36, SP06, CV02, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240322-k0003 ↗)
Obesity, Overweight, Phlegm-dampness – ST24, ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, GB26 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240610-k0004 ↗)
Obesity – ST25, ST27, ST28, SP15, KD13, KD14, CV04, CV05 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Obesity – LI11, ST25, ST28, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Obesity – ST25, ST28, ST36, SP15, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Obesity Simple – ST21, ST25, ST28, ST34, SP04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Obesity – ST25, ST28, ST36, ST37, SP06, BL20, BL21, BL23, KD03, TB06, LV13, CV04, CV07, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Obesity – ST24, ST25, ST26, ST28, BL23, BL25, BL28, GB26, CV04, CV06, CV07, CV08, CV09, CV12, XB07 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)
Obesity;menstrual Disorder – LI04, ST24, ST25, ST26, ST28, ST29, ST36, SP06, SP08, BL17, BL20, BL23, KD03, KD08, GB31, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV09, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60033-3 ↗)

Most often selected alongside ST28

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with ST28. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

SP06Three Yin Intersection59 protocols
CV04Original Qi Gate56 protocols
ST25Celestial Pivot54 protocols
ST36Leg Three Miles53 protocols
CV06Sea Of Qi43 protocols
CV12Stomach Centre31 protocols
CV03Central Pivot29 protocols
SP15Great Horizontal27 protocols
SP09Yin Mound Spring26 protocols
LV03Great Surge24 protocols
CV09Water Separation23 protocols
ST40Abundant Bulge21 protocols

Other points on the Stomach Meridian

ST01 ST02 ST03 ST04 ST05 ST06 ST07 ST08 ST09 ST10 ST11 ST12 ST13 ST14 ST15 ST16 ST17 ST18 ST19 ST20 ST21 ST22 ST23 ST24 ST25 ST26 ST27 ST29 ST30 ST31 ST32 ST33 ST34 ST35 ST36 ST37 ST38 ST39 ST40 ST41 ST42 ST43 ST44 ST45