ST21 (Liángmén, “Beam Gate”) is an acupuncture point on the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the upper abdomen, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral to the midline, on the Stomach channel. This places it 1 cun inferior to Chengman (ST20) and 1 cun superior to Guanmen (ST22). It harmonizes the middle jiao, regulates stomach and intestinal qi, resolves food stagnation, and disperses accumulations.
On the upper abdomen, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral to the midline, on the Stomach channel. This places it 1 cun inferior to Chengman (ST20) and 1 cun superior to Guanmen (ST22).
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun.
Harmonizes the middle jiao, regulates stomach and intestinal qi, resolves food stagnation, and disperses accumulations.
Accumulated qi in the abdomen, knotted qi with abdominal pain, accumulated qi under the hypochondrium, accumulated qi below the chest, lack of desire to eat or drink, slippery discharge from the large intestine, undigested food in the stool.
Liangmen is a key local point for addressing disorders of the stomach and intestines, particularly those involving stagnation and accumulation. Its classical indications point to its effectiveness for abdominal masses or pain from qi stagnation, poor appetite, and diarrhea with undigested food. It functions to restore the proper descending and transforming action of the middle jiao.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《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 ↗
梁門 在承滿下一寸，去中行二寸，對中脘。 刺三分，灸五壯。 甲乙經作刺八分。 孕婦禁灸。 主治胸脅積氣，飲食不思，氣塊疼痛，大腸滑泄，完穀不化，可灸七壯至二十一壯According to this text, ST21 lies 1 cun below Chengman, 2 cun from the midline, opposite Zhongwan, needled 0.3 cun (0.8 cun in the Jiayi jing) with 5 moxa cones; moxibustion is stated to be forbidden in pregnant women. It was used for accumulated qi in the chest and flanks, no wish to eat, painful qi lumps, slippery diarrhoea with undigested food.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
梁门承满下一寸。 针入八分，灸五壮。 主胸胁下积气，不思饮食，大肠滑泄，谷不化According to this text, ST21 lies 1 cun below Chengman, is needled 0.8 cun with 5 moxa cones, and was used for accumulated qi below the chest and flanks, no wish to eat, and slippery diarrhoea with undigested grain.
《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 ↗
梁門 在承滿下一寸。 中脘旁二寸（針三分。 灸五壯。 ）治胸脅積氣大腸滑泄According to this text, ST21 lies 1 cun below Chengman, 2 cun beside Zhongwan, needled 0.3 cun with 5 moxa cones, and was used for accumulated qi in the chest and flanks and slippery diarrhoea.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 腹自不容以下夾幽門兩旁各一寸五分自天樞至氣衝夾足少陰各一寸五分凡二十四穴第二十一 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
梁門二穴，主胸下積氣，食飲不思，大腸滑泄，完穀不化The text records that ST21 was used for accumulated qi below the chest, no wish to eat, and slippery diarrhoea with undigested food.
ST21 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST21 (Liángmén) is located on the upper abdomen, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus and 2 cun lateral to the midline, on the Stomach channel. This places it 1 cun inferior to Chengman (ST20) and 1 cun superior to Guanmen (ST22).
ST21 harmonizes the middle jiao, regulates stomach and intestinal qi, resolves food stagnation, and disperses accumulations. Common clinical indications include accumulated qi in the abdomen, knotted qi with abdominal pain, accumulated qi under the hypochondrium, accumulated qi below the chest, lack of desire to eat or drink, slippery discharge from the large intestine, undigested food in the stool.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun. Caution: Overlies abdominal organs (liver/spleen/kidney/gallbladder) — avoid deep perpendicular insertion; risk of organ puncture.
ST21 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).