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
- Anxiety, Depression, Shoulder Pain, Periarthritis Scapulohumeral, Range Of Motion Shoulder Restricted – LI15, ST38, SP09, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34, GV14 (https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240047)
- Shoulder Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, ST38, HT01, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34 (https://doi.org/10.27180/d.cnki.gjxzc.2023.000109)
- Nausea, Bloating, Heartburn, Dyspepsia Functional, Abdominal Pain Epigastric, Early Satiety, Postprandial Fullness – ST32, ST33, ST35, ST38 (https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-10-75)
- Shoulder Pain, Range Of Motion Restricted Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – ST38, BL57 (https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4197659)
- Stiffness Shoulder, Shoulder Chronic Pain, Range-of-motion Reduced Shoulder – ST38 (https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5701042)
- 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)
- Epigastric Pain, Early Satiety, Postprandial Fullness, Epigastric Burning, Functional Dyspepsia – ST32, ST33, ST35, ST38 (https://doi.org/10.13703/j.0255-2930.2012.08.015)
- Shoulder Chronic Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder – LI14, LI15, ST38, SI09, TB14 (https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-130)
- Shoulder Pain, Paralysis Shoulder, Deltoid Weakness, Biceps Weakness, Paralysis Cervical Postoperative – ST38, BL57 (https://doi.org/10.1155/prm/2625552)
- Shoulder Pain, Restricted Range Of Motion Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, ST38, SI09, BL57, TB14, GB34 (https://doi.org/10.27180/d.cnki.gjxzc.2023.000109)
- 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 (https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.809)
- Standing Stiffness – ST36, ST37, ST38, BL11, BL30, BL56, BL57, BL58, BL59, BL63, KD01, GB25, GB37, LV06 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)