ST41 (Dividing Cleft)

解谿jiě xī

Indications

Protocols

Location

On the dorsum of the foot at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle joint in the depression the between tendons of the extensor digitorum longus and hallucis longus approximately at the level of the tip of the external malleolus.

Cautions

Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

Indications

Conditions for which ST41 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Agitation Arthritis Knee Arthritis Knee Leg Muscle Wasting Leg Muscle Wasting Belching Biting Tongue Biting Tongue Calm Spirit Shen Calm Spirit Shen Constipation Cramping Damp Depression Crying Depression Crying Sadness & Depression Sadness & Depression Disease Febrile Disease Febrile Psychological Disorder Psychological Disorder Turmoil Disorder Turmoil Disorder Abdominal Bloating Abdominal Bloating Dizziness Drop Foot Drop-foot Eating Problems Eating Problems Epilepsy Eyesight / Vision Dizzy Dizzy Vision Fright Fullness Ghost Syndrome Seeing Ghosts Ghost Syndrome Seeing Ghosts Heat Fu Heat Fu Heat Stomach Heat Stomach Heaviness Thigh Heaviness Thigh High Blood Pressure High Blood Pressure Injury Knee Injury Knee Injury Toe Hallux Injury Toe Hallux Malaria Pain Ankle Joint Pain Ankle Joint Pain Eyebrow Pain Eyebrow Pain Headache Frontal Pain Headache Frontal Pain Knee Pain Knee Pain Mouth Pain Mouth Pain Palpitations Red Eyes Red Eyes Facial Redness Facial Redness Sciatica Muscle Spasms Muscle Spasms Channel Stagnation Channel Stagnation Spontaneous Sweating Spontaneous Sweating Swelling Facial Swelling Facial Swelling Head Swelling Head Swelling Bi Arthralgia Syndrome Bi / Arthralgia Syndrome Bi Arthralgia Tendon Ligament Syndrome Bi / Arthralgia Tendon / Ligament Syndrome Wind Head Wind Head

Protocols using ST41

The 50 best-sourced of 62, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle, Ankle Swelling – LI04, ST36, ST41, SP04, SP05, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL60, BL62, BL63, BL64, KD02, KD03, KD06, GB34, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stomach Deficiency – ST35, ST41, ST43, SP09, SI05, BL39, GB41 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-129 ↗)
Joint Pain, Stiffness Joint, Deformity Joint, Fluorosis Skeletal, Bi-syndrome – LU05, LI04, LI11, LI15, ST35, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP10, BL10, BL17, TB04, GB29, GB30, GV03, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2013/839132 ↗)
Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain – ST34, ST36, ST41 (doi:10.1155/2014/283010 ↗)
Hemiplegia, Ischemic Stroke, Neurological Deficit, Dysphagia, Cognitive Impairment Mild, Paralysis Motor – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-214 ↗)
Ischemic Stroke, Dysphagia – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, BL10, TB05, GB20, GB34, LV03, CV23, GV16 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-214 ↗)
Ischemic Stroke, Cognitive Impairment Mild – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB13, GB34, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-214 ↗)
Fatigue, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Headache, Constipation, Depression, Insomnia, Itchiness, Edema, Palpitation, Knee Pain, Back Pain, Vision Blurred, Cervical Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Cramp Leg, Lower-limb Pain, Upper-limb Numbness, Lower-limb Numbness, Hemodialysis Complication – LU05, LU09, LI02, LI11, ST41, ST45, SP02, SP05, HT07, HT09, SI03, SI08, BL65, BL67, KD01, KD07, PC07, PC09, TB03, TB10, GB38, GB43, LV02, LV08 (doi:10.1155/2015/802846 ↗)
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 ↗)
Hemiplegia, Ischemic Stroke, Neurological Deficit – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB34, LV03, MS06, MS07 (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1193-y ↗)
Hemiplegia, Ischemic Stroke, Dysphagia – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, BL10, TB05, GB20, GB34, LV03, CV23, GV16, MS06, MS07 (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1193-y ↗)
Hemiplegia, Cognitive Impairment, Ischemic Stroke – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB13, GB34, LV03, GV20, GV24, MS06, MS07 (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1193-y ↗)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Morning, Disability Musculoskeletal – LI04, ST34, ST35, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL60, KD03, GB31, GB33, GB34, GB36, GB39, GB41, LV03, LV08 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013830 ↗)
Fatigue, Loss of Appetite, Low-back Pain, Cough Chronic Intractable, Throat Dry, Lupus Nephropathy – LU07, LI04, LI20, ST21, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP04, SP06, SI03, BL13, BL18, BL23, BL62, KD03, KD06, PC06, TB05, GB41, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV22, GV01, GV08, GV14, GV24 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000009309 ↗)
Neuropathic Pain, Tingling Feet, Neuropathy Peripheral Chemotherapy-induced, Tingling Hands, Extremities Numbness – LI04, LI11, ST36, ST41, SP06, PC07, TB05, LV03 (doi:10.1177/1534735419836501 ↗)
Ankle Pain, Ankle Swelling, Sprain Ankle Lateral – ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4111-z ↗)
Hemiplegia, Limb Weakness, Motor Dysfunction Upper Limb, Motor Dysfunction Lower Limb, Paralysis Post-stroke – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST36, ST41, BL60, TB05, GB30, GB34 (doi:10.1155/2020/5094914 ↗)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Knee, Inflammation Joint – ST34, ST35, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL60, KD03, GB31, GB33, GB34, GB36, GB39, GB41, LV03, LV07, LV08 (doi:10.2147/JPR.S256950 ↗)
Paralysis Lower Limb, Motor Dysfunction Lower Limb, Stroke Hemiplegia, Spasm Extensor, Gait Hemiparetic – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST36, ST41, BL60, TB05, GB30, GB34 (doi:10.1155/2020/3805628 ↗)
Ankle Pain, Ankle Swelling, Sprain Ankle Lateral, Instability Ankle – ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05135-6 ↗)
Depression, Insomnia, Ankle Pain, Phantom Limb Pain, Phantom Limb Sensation – ST41, BL62, KD06, LV03 (doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.713548 ↗)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Deformity Varus Knee, Lower Limb Swelling – ST32, ST34, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP10, KD03, KD06 (doi:10.1155/2022/6428759 ↗)
Fatigue, Depression, Insomnia, Poor Appetite, Lower Limb Weakness, Upper Limb Weakness, Muscle Atrophy Progressive, Paralysis Motor Neuron – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST32, ST36, ST41, SP06, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, TB05, GB20, GB34, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV23, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2022/6541600 ↗)
Ankle Pain, Ankle Swelling, Sprain Ankle Acute, Bruising Ankle, Functional Impairment Ankle – ST41, BL40, BL60, KD06, KD09, GB39 (doi:10.12659/MSM.944157 ↗)
Neuropathy Peripheral Chemotherapy-induced, Extremities Numbness, Tingling Extremities – LI04, ST36, ST41, CV04 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04603-1 ↗)
Muscle Weakness, Muscle Atrophy, Sarcopenia, Reduced Muscle Mass, Decreased Physical Performance – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI14, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST41 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04723-8 ↗)
Ankle Pain, Skin Redness, Erysipelas Lower Limb, Calf Swelling, Edema Calf – ST41, SP04, SP05, SP06, KD03, KD06 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000042413 ↗)
Contracture Knee, Brachial Plexus Injury, Muscle Atrophy, Paralysis Upper Extremity, Paralysis Lower Extremity, Contracture Ankle, Contracture Shoulder, Contracture Elbow, Scoliosis, Neuromotor Impairment, Steppage Gait – LU01, LI04, LI05, LI11, LI14, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP09, SP10, SI05, SI06, SI07, SI09, BL11, BL12, BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL36, BL37, BL39, BL55, BL56, BL57, BL58, BL60, BL61, BL62, KD03, KD04, KD05, KD06, TB09, GB20, GB21, GB40 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.009 ↗)
Vomiting, Nausea, Heat Stomach, Chemotherapy Nausea – ST36, ST41, ST44, SP04, PC06, GB34, CV12 (doi:10.1177/2164956119870444 ↗)
Memory Impaired, Cognitive Impairment Mild – ST25, ST41, BL23, KD13 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.942682 ↗)
Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle – ST36, ST41, SP05, GB34, GB40, LV04 (doi:10.3831/kpi.2005.8.2.011 ↗)
Varicose Veins, Leg Pain, Edema Leg, Venous Insufficiency, Cyanosis Toe – ST24, ST25, ST41, SP09, KD06, LV03 (doi:10.5606/e-cvsi.2019.702 ↗)
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 ↗)
Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle Chronic, Ankle Problems – ST41, BL60, BL62, KD06, GB40 (doi:10.16448/j.cjtcm.2017.0181 ↗)
Hemiplegia Post-stroke, Foot Drop, Ankle Mobility Reduced, Lower Limb Motor Dysfunction – ST36, ST37, ST41, SP06, GB20, GB34, GB39, GB40, GV20 (doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2020.000412 ↗)
Paralysis Lower Limb, Stroke Sequelae, Gait Disturbance, Foot Drop, Gait Dysfunction Post-stroke – ST36, ST41, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240115-k0004 ↗)
Neuropathy Peripheral Diabetic, Liver-kidney Deficiency, Diabetes Complications – ST36, ST41, SP06, SP09, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD01, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.022190 ↗)
Headache Migraine – LI04, ST41, BL02, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.023136 ↗)
Stroke Sequelae, Motor Impairment, Gait Disturbance, Spasticity Lower Limb – LI04, LI11, LI15, ST41, GB34, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240411-k0001 ↗)
Diplopia, Paralytic Strabismus – ST02, ST41, GB01, GB20, LV03, XH05 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240424-0001 ↗)
Sarcopenia – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI14, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST41 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04723-8 ↗)
Stroke, Hemiplegia Post-stroke, Paralysis Post-stroke Motor Dysfunction – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST36, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB34, LV03, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, MS06 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1794260 ↗)
Phlegm Misting Heart, Phlegm Misting Heart – ST23, ST24, ST40, ST41, ST45, SI19, BL03, BL08, KD20 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
Trigeminal Neuralgia – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST06, ST07, ST08, ST41, ST44, SP06, SI18, BL02, BL65, TB05, TB17, GB03, GB14, GB20, LV03, CV24 (PI Min et al. A Survey on Acupuncture Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010, 30(1): 68)
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)
Tremor, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Disorder, Bradykinesia, Rigidity Cogwheel, Balance Disturbance – LU05, LI05, LI11, LI15, ST41, SP09, HT03, SI06, SI09, BL36, BL40, KD03, PC02, PC03, PC07, TB02, TB04, TB14, GB30, GB34, LV04 (REN Xiao-ming. Fifty Cases of Parkinson's Disease Treated by Acupuncture Combined with Madopar. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008, 28(4): 255-257)
Motor Dysfunction, Spinal Cord Injury, Paralysis Paraplegia – ST32, ST33, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, ST42, ST43, BL37, BL39, BL40, BL55, BL56, GB40 (Wang Yuanhui, Zhang Lei, Pan Guodong, Liu Jing, Zhang Hongrui, Song Xu, Wang Qiang. Traditional Chinese Medicine comprehensive therapy for the improvement of motor function in spinal cord injury patients. J Tradit Chin Med, 2016, 36(5): 618-624)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Physical Problems – LI04, ST34, ST35, ST36, ST41, SP06, SP09, SP10, KD03, GB34 (Atalay Sevgi Gümüs et al.. The Effect of Acupuncture and Physiotherapy on Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study.. Pain physician, 2021)

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 ST28 ST29 ST30 ST31 ST32 ST33 ST34 ST35 ST36 ST37 ST38 ST39 ST40 ST42 ST43 ST44 ST45