Location
8 thumb widths below st35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.
Cautions
No specific contraindications.
Indications
Conditions for which ST38 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
Muscle WastingBenefit ShouldersBenefit ShouldersCommon ColdDampHeat Foot SoleHeat Foot SoleShoulder StiffnessStanding StiffnessImmobility ShoulderImmobility StandingNumbnessPainAbdominal PainAbdominal PainShin PainShin Pain SwellingSwollen KneeSwollen KneeThigh SwellingThigh SwellingBi Arthralgia SyndromeBi / Arthralgia SyndromeBi Arthralgia Leg SyndromeBi / Arthralgia Leg SyndromeWind Damp SyndromeWind-damp Syndrome
Protocols using ST38
- Nausea, Bloating, Heartburn, Dyspepsia Functional, Abdominal Pain Epigastric, Early Satiety, Postprandial Fullness – ST32, ST33, ST35, ST38 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-75 ↗)
- Shoulder Chronic Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder – LI14, LI15, ST38, SI09, TB14 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-130 ↗)
- Fatigue, Constipation, Numbness, Insomnia, Speech Slurred, Cognitive Impairment, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Paresthesia, Balance Impaired, Traumatic Brain Injury Severe, Tremor Pill-rolling, Vision Diplopia – LI04, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST36, ST38, ST41, SP06, KD03, TB05, GB34 (doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.069 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Range Of Motion Restricted Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – ST38, BL57 (doi:10.1155/2018/4197659 ↗)
- Stiffness Shoulder, Shoulder Chronic Pain, Range-of-motion Reduced Shoulder – ST38 (doi:10.1155/2020/5701042 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Weakness, Limited Range Of Motion Shoulder, Tear Rotator Cuff – LI15, ST38, SI09 (doi:10.12659/MSM.923240 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Limitation Of Movement Shoulder, Night Pain, Impingement Syndrome Supraspinatus, Rotator Cuff Tear Partial – LU01, LU03, LU04, LU11, LI14, LI15, LI16, ST38, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Cervical Pain, Adhesive Capsulitis, Limitation Of Movement Shoulder, Night Pain, Radiating To Fingers Pain, Calcified Tendinitis – LU01, LU03, LU04, LU11, LI14, LI15, LI16, ST38, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Tendonitis Calcific, Range-of-motion Limited Shoulder – LI04, LI14, LI15, ST37, ST38, SI09, SI12, TB05, TB14, GB21, GB34 (doi:10.1016/j.jams.2017.12.004 ↗)
- Depression, Shoulder Pain, Upper-limb Pain, Scapular-girdle Pain, Range-of-motion Restricted, Functional-limitation Upper-limb, Post-mastectomy – LU05, LI04, LI15, ST36, ST38, SP09, BL60, KD07, GB21, LV03, CV03 (doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.809 ↗)
- Fatigue, Pain, Lymphedema Upper-limb, Upper-limb Weakness, Shoulder Dysfunction, Cancer Breast Post-surgical – LU05, LI04, LI15, ST36, ST38, SP09, BL60, KD07, GB21, LV03, CV03 (doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.799 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Paralysis Shoulder, Deltoid Weakness, Biceps Weakness, Paralysis Cervical Postoperative, Palsy Nerve Root C5 – ST38, BL57 (doi:10.1155/prm/2625552 ↗)
- Anxiety, Depression, Shoulder Pain, Periarthritis Scapulohumeral, Range Of Motion Shoulder Restricted, Periarthritis Shoulder, Immobility Shoulder – LI15, ST38, SP09, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34, GV14 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240047 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder – ST38, BL57 (doi:10.20140/j.2095-7785.2025.04.16 ↗)
- Epigastric Pain, Early Satiety, Postprandial Fullness, Epigastric Burning, Functional Dyspepsia – ST32, ST33, ST35, ST38 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2012.08.015 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, ST38, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34 (doi:10.27180/d.cnki.gjxzc.2023.000109 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, ST38, HT01, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34 (doi:10.27180/d.cnki.gjxzc.2023.000109 ↗)
- Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Periarthritis, Restricted Shoulder Movement – LI15, ST38, ST40, SI03, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34 (doi:10.27368/d.cnki.gtzyy.2020.000102 ↗)
- Cancer Breast, Lymphedema Upper Limb, Quality Of Life Impaired, Muscle Upper Limb Weakness – LU05, LI04, LI15, ST36, ST38, SP09, BL60, KD07, GB21, LV03, CV03 (doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.799 ↗)
- Depression, Shoulder Pain, Cancer Breast, Upper Limb Pain, Immobility Shoulder – LU05, LI04, LI15, ST36, ST38, SP09, BL60, KD07, GB21, LV03, CV03 (doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.809 ↗)
- Blood Stagnation, Blood Stagnation – LI16, ST37, ST38, SP08, SP10, BL17, KD18 (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)
- Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Optic Atrophy, Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Optic Atrophy – ST38, SP06, BL01, GB20, GB37, XH07 (sacredlotus.com ↗)