ST16 (Yingchuang, “Yingchuang”) is an acupuncture point on the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the chest, in the third intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline, 1.6 cun inferior to Wuyi (ST15). It unbinds the chest, descends rebellious Qi, alleviates cough and wheezing, clears heat and resolves swelling.
On the chest, in the third intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline, 1.6 cun inferior to Wuyi (ST15).
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.3-0.5 cun, avoiding deep perpendicular insertion to prevent pneumothorax.
Unbinds the chest, descends rebellious Qi, alleviates cough and wheezing, clears heat and resolves swelling.
Chest fullness, shortness of breath, inability to lie down, lip swelling, intestinal rumbling with loose stools, mastitis with chills and fever, inability to rest peacefully, chest and flank abscess/swelling.
Yingchuang is a primary local point for disorders of the chest, particularly those involving a sense of fullness, oppression, and difficulty breathing. Its name, 'Chest Window,' aptly describes its ability to open the chest and facilitate the descent of Lung Qi. It is also classically indicated for mastitis, where it helps to clear local heat and inflammation, especially when combined with symptoms of chills and fever.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸逢源》 Zhēnjiǔ Féngyuán — Sources of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Li Xuechuan, 1815 · 卷四 · 經穴考正 · 足陽明胃經穴考 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
膺窗 在屋翳下一寸六分。 玉堂旁四寸陷中。 仰取之。 （針四分。 灸五壯。 ）治胸滿不得臥According to this text, ST16 lies 1.6 cun below Wuyi (ST15), in the depression 4 cun beside Yutang (CV18), located with the face upward; needle 0.4 cun, moxibustion 5 cones. It was used for chest fullness with inability to lie down.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
膺窗 屋翳下一寸六分陷中，去中各四寸，銅人針四分，灸五壯。 主胸滿短氣， 唇腫腸鳴注泄，乳癰寒熱，臥不安According to this text, ST16 lies in the depression 1.6 cun below Wuyi (ST15), 4 cun from the midline; the Tongren gives needling 0.4 cun and 5 moxa cones. It was used for chest fullness with shortness of breath, swollen lips, borborygmus with outpouring diarrhoea, breast abscess with cold and heat, and restless sleep.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
膺窗屋翳下一寸六分。 针入四分，灸五壮。 主胸胁痈肿及肠鸣泄泻，乳痈，寒热短气，睡卧不安According to this text, ST16 lies 1.6 cun below Wuyi (ST15); needle 0.4 cun, moxibustion 5 cones. It was used for abscess and swelling of chest and ribs, borborygmus with diarrhoea, breast abscess, cold and heat with shortness of breath, and restless sleep.
《類經圖翼》 Lèijīng Túyì — Illustrated Wings to the Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 卷六 · 經絡（四） · 足陽明胃經穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
膺窗 在屋翳下一寸六分，巨骨下四寸八分，去中行四寸陷中，仰而取之。 刺四分，灸五壯。 主治胸滿短氣不得臥，腸鳴注泄，乳癰寒熱According to this text, ST16 lies 1.6 cun below Wuyi (ST15), 4.8 cun below the clavicle, 4 cun from the midline, located with the face upward; needle 0.4 cun, moxibustion 5 cones. It was used for chest fullness with shortness of breath and inability to lie down, borborygmus with outpouring diarrhoea, and breast abscess with cold and heat.
ST16 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST16 (Yingchuang) is located on the chest, in the third intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline, 1.6 cun inferior to Wuyi (ST15).
ST16 unbinds the chest, descends rebellious Qi, alleviates cough and wheezing, clears heat and resolves swelling. Common clinical indications include chest fullness, shortness of breath, inability to lie down, lip swelling, intestinal rumbling with loose stools, mastitis with chills and fever, inability to rest peacefully, chest and flank abscess/swelling.
Oblique or transverse insertion 0.3-0.5 cun, avoiding deep perpendicular insertion to prevent pneumothorax. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall.
ST16 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).