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

• Ischemic Stroke, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Lower Limb Weakness, Upper Limb Weakness, Disability Activities Of Daily Living – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST25, ST31, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP10, SP15, TB06, GB34, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010073 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis 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 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• Spleen Qi Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency – ST21, ST31, ST32, ST33, ST34, ST36, SP03, SP05, SP06, SI06, BL20 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
• 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 (HU Jin-sheng. Acupuncture Treatment of Prostatitis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010, 30(1): 66-67)
• 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 (ZHANG Cheng, MA Yuan-xu, YAN Ye. Clinical Effects of Acupuncture for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010, 30(1): 13-14)
• Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Arm, Paralysis Leg, Spasticity – LI04, LI10, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP10, BL60, TB05, GB34, LV03, CV04 (Wu Yong. Effects of Electroacupuncture at the Nerve Trunk for Treatment of Apoplectic Hemiplegia at the Spastic Stage. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(3): 183-185)
• Stroke, Hemiplegia, Paralysis Arm, Paralysis Leg, Spasticity, Speech Unclear – LI04, LI10, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST41, TB05, GB34, LV03 (Wu Yong. Effects of Electroacupuncture at the Nerve Trunk for Treatment of Apoplectic Hemiplegia at the Spastic Stage. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(3): 183-185)
• 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])
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke Limb Spasticity – LU04, LU05, LU06, LI10, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST36, ST40, BL36, BL40, BL57, GB30 (Liu Xiafei, Bao Chunling, Dong Guirong. Using acupoint-to-acupoint penetrative needling to treat poststroke spastic paralysis: a clinical progress review. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2014 October 15; 34(5): 609-615.)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LI04, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST34, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT03, SI03, BL54, KD01, PC06, TB05, GB30, GB34, GB39, LV03 (Liu Xiafei, Bao Chunling, Dong Guirong. Using acupoint-to-acupoint penetrative needling to treat poststroke spastic paralysis: a clinical progress review. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2014 October 15; 34(5): 609-615.)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LU05, LI15, ST31, SP10, HT01, BL36, BL62, KD06, PC07, TB04, TB10, LV08 (Liu Xiafei, Bao Chunling, Dong Guirong. Using acupoint-to-acupoint penetrative needling to treat poststroke spastic paralysis: a clinical progress review. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2014 October 15; 34(5): 609-615.)
• 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 Miles23 protocols
• GB34Yang Mound Spring21 protocols
• SP10Sea Of Blood15 protocols
• ST32Crouching Rabbit14 protocols
• GB30Jumping Circle13 protocols
• ST34Ridge Mound12 protocols
• GB39Suspended Bell11 protocols
• LV03Great Surge11 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection11 protocols
• ST41Dividing Cleft11 protocols
• LI15Shoulder And Clavicle10 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley7 protocols

Other points on the Stomach Meridian