ST31 Biguan (Thigh Gate)

Location

On the anterior side of the thigh on the line connecting asis and laterosuperior corner of the patella on the level of the inferior pubis symphasis when thigh is fixed in the depression the lateral to the sartorius.

Indications

Conditions for which ST31 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Protocols using ST31

• Constipation, Urinary Incontinence, Thigh Pain, Lumbar Pain, Urinary Frequent, Urinary Urgent, Lower Limbs Weakness – LI04, ST25, ST31, ST32, SP06, SP10, KD03, GB31, CV04, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60017-9 ↗)
• Limbs Numbness, Limbs Pain, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Abnormal Sensation Limbs – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST09, ST31, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST43, ST44, SP03, SP06, SP08, SP09, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB34, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60003-9 ↗)
• Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Arm, Paralysis Leg, Spasticity – LI04, LI10, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP10, BL60, TB05, GB34, LV03, CV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60042-4 ↗)
• Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Arm, Paralysis Leg, Spasticity, Speech Unclear – LI04, LI10, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST41, TB05, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60042-4 ↗)
• Limb Weakness, Atrophy Muscle, Muscle Weakness, Icu-acquired Weakness – LI11, LI15, ST31, ST36, GB34 (doi:10.1155/2021/3539651 ↗)
• Stroke Sequelae, Stroke Post, Paralysis Ankle, Ankle Joint Problems, Ankle Dysfunction – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST40, ST41, SP10, KD06, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.27127/d.cnki.ghlzu.2024.000593 ↗)
• Stroke Sequelae, Stroke Post, Paralysis Ankle, Ankle Joint Problems, Ankle Dysfunction – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST40, ST41, SP10, BL39, KD06, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.27127/d.cnki.ghlzu.2024.000593 ↗)
• Atrophy Muscle, Muscle Weakness, Sarcopenia – ST31, ST32, ST36, GB34 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000049033 ↗)
• Bone Pain, Leg Numbness, Cancer Lung, Bone Metastasis – ST31, ST32, ST36, BL23, BL25, BL54, BL60, GB31, GB34, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.3389/fonc.2026.1684346 ↗)
• Paralysis, Leg Weakness, Cancer Lung, Spinal Metastasis – ST31, ST36, SP06, BL36, GB30, GB34, GB39, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1815886 ↗)
• Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Spastic, Spasticity Post-stroke – LI04, LI11, LI15, ST31, GB31, LV03 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240312-k0002 ↗)
• Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Knee, Postoperative Pain – ST31, ST32, ST34, ST35, ST36, SP09, SP10, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB29, GB30, GB34, LV08, LV09, XL02, XL05A (doi:10.2147/JPR.S453133 ↗)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke Limb Spasticity – LU04, LU05, LU06, LI10, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, BL36, BL40, BL57, GB30 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LI04, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST34, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT03, SI03, BL54, KD01, PC06, TB05, GB30, GB34, GB39, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LU05, LI15, ST31, SP10, HT01, BL36, BL62, KD06, PC07, TB04, TB10, LV08 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Dysphagia, Muscle Weakness, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – LI10, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST34, ST35, ST36, ST41, SP06, SP10, BL36, BL37, BL40, BL57, GB20, GB30, GB31, GV20, XL05A (doi:10.1097/md.0000000000033612 ↗)
• Sarcopenia – ST31, ST32, ST36, GB34 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000049033 ↗)
• Paralysis Paraplegia, Cancer Lung – ST31, ST36, SP06, BL36, GB30, GB34, GB39, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1815886 ↗)
• Ischemic Stroke, Hemiplegia Post-stroke – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, TB05, GB30 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.11.004 ↗)
• Obesity – ST25, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101151 ↗)
• Cerebral Infarction – LI04, LI15, ST31, LV03 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
• Osteoarthritis Hip – ST31, GB29, LV10, LV11 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
• Spleen Qi Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency – ST21, ST31, ST32, ST33, ST34, ST36, SP03, SP05, SP06, SI06, BL20 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
• Knee Pain, Swollen Knee, Limited Range Of Motion Knee – ST31, ST32, ST38, SP06, BL23, BL25, BL37, BL57, BL60, KD03, GB31, GB39, GB40, GB41, GB42, LV03 (Mikashima Y, Takagi T, Tomatsu T, Horikoshi M, Ikari K, Momohara S. Efficacy of acupuncture during post-acute phase of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty. J Tradit Chin Med 2012; 32(4): 545-548)
• Lower Limb Numbness, Lower Limb Weakness, Peripheral Nerve Injury Lower Limb – ST31, ST36, ST41, SP09, BL23, BL32, BL33, BL35, BL40, BL54, GB30, GB34 (章明星王蕊刘阳阳刘建卫郭义. 基于现代文献总结针灸治疗周围神经损伤选穴规律. 北京中医药大学学报 ., 2015 [CNKI])
• Urinary Incontinence, Paraplegia Traumatic, Spinal Cord Injury – LI04, ST31, ST36, BL32, BL36, BL40, BL57, BL60, KD03, TB05, GB34, GB39, CV03, CV04, GV04, GV14, XB02C2, XB02C3, XB02C4, XB02C5, XB02C6 (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
• Paraplegia Traumatic, Spinal Cord Injury – LI04, LI05, ST31, ST36, SI03, BL32, BL36, BL40, BL57, BL60, KD03, TB04, TB05, GB34, GB39, CV03, CV04, GV04, GV14, XB02C2, XB02C3, XB02C4, XB02C5, XB02C6 (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
• Hemiplegia, Facial Droop, Stroke Sequelae, Dysarthria – LI04, LI11, LI15, ST04, ST06, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, GB20, LV03, CV23, XU09A, XU09B, XU09C, XU09D, XU09E, XU09F, XU09G, XU09H (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
• Sequellae Poliomyelitis – ST31, ST32, ST36, ST41, ST44, BL23, BL36, BL43, BL54, KD01, GB30, GB31, GB40, LV03, LV04, XL10A, XL10B, XL10C, XL10D, XL10E, XL10F, XL10G, XL10H, XL25 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
• Leg Weakness, Muscular Dystrophy – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST41, BL20, BL23, GB30 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Paralysis Paraplegia, Haematomyelia – ST31, ST32, ST33, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST41, SP08, BL22, BL23, BL37, BL60, GB30, GB34, GB39, GB40, CV03 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Paralysis Paraplegia, Tuberculosis Spine – ST25, ST31, ST36, ST41, BL23, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, BL37, BL40, BL60, GB31, GB34, GB39, GB40, CV06, XB02T4, XB02T5, XB02T6 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Thigh Pain, Spasm Leg – ST31, ST34, SP10, GB31 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Coma, Encephalitis, Measles – LU11, LI04, LI11, ST31, ST36, ST41, SP01, KD01, XH03, XL04, AT15 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Numbness, Paresthesia – ST31, HT03, HT05 (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 Lower Limb, Qi Stagnation, Stasis Blood, Paralysis (infant), Benefit Regulate Yin, Benefit Regulate Wei, Paralysis Lower Limb – ST31, ST36, ST41, SP06, BL60, GB30, GB34, GB39, XB02L1, XB02L2, XB02L3, XB02L4, XB02L5 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
• Heat, Damp, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP09, SP10, BL20, GB30, GB34, GB39 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
• Kidney Yin Deficiency, Liver Yin Deficiency, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic, Kidney Yin Deficiency, Liver Yin Deficiency, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP10, BL18, BL23, GB30, GB34, GB39 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
• Heat Lung, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic, Heat Lung, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic – LU05, ST31, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP10, BL13, GB30, GB34, GB39 (sacredlotus.com ↗)
• Trauma, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic, Wei Syndrome Lower Limb, Myelitis Myatrophy Progressive, Myathenia Gravis, Neuritis Multiple, Sequellae Poliomyelitis, Paralysis Periodic, Hysterical Paralysis, Paraplegia Traumatic – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP10, GB30, GB34, GB39 (sacredlotus.com ↗)

Most often selected alongside ST31

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with ST31. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• ST36Leg Three Miles31 protocols
• GB34Yang Mound Spring23 protocols
• ST32Crouching Rabbit18 protocols
• ST41Dividing Cleft17 protocols
• GB30Jumping Circle16 protocols
• GB39Suspended Bell15 protocols
• SP10Sea Of Blood14 protocols
• LV03Great Surge13 protocols
• ST34Ridge Mound13 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley12 protocols
• LI15Shoulder And Clavicle12 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection11 protocols

Other points on the Stomach Meridian