ST33 (Yinshi, “Yinshi”) is an acupuncture point on the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the anterior aspect of the thigh, on a line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the superolateral corner of the patella, 3 cun superior to the patella in a depression inferior to the Futu (ST32) point. This point is best located with the knee flexed. It expels cold and damp from the lower jiao and channel, alleviates pain, tonifies Qi in cases of deficiency.
On the anterior aspect of the thigh, on a line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the superolateral corner of the patella, 3 cun superior to the patella in a depression inferior to the Futu (ST32) point. This point is best located with the knee flexed.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun.
Expels cold and damp from the lower jiao and channel, alleviates pain, tonifies Qi in cases of deficiency.
Abdominal fullness, flaccidity and reversal (wei jue), shortness of breath, cold sensation in the lower back and legs as if in cold water, cold hernia with lower abdominal distention, sudden hernia with lower abdominal pain, weakness of the legs, cold in the Futu (ST32) area,low back pain where one cannot turn to look back, leg pain, difficulty walking, leg muscle contracture, foot qi, consumptive thirst (diabetes), knee pain, cold and numbness in the leg, inability to bend or extend the knee.
Yinshi is a key local point on the Stomach channel for treating pain, cold, weakness, and atrophy of the thigh and knee. Its classical indications for cold hernia and abdominal fullness highlight its ability to dispel cold from the lower jiao and channel. While primarily used for leg disorders, it can also be considered for deficiency conditions presenting with shortness of breath or for unceasing sweat when other methods fail.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷08 · Source: Wikisource ↗
寒疝痛，腹脹滿，痿厥少氣，陰市主之The text records that ST33 was used for painful cold shan hernia, abdominal distension and fullness, and wei-jue (weakness with cold limbs) with shortness of qi.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷十 · Source: Wikisource ↗
陰市 在膝蓋上三寸，拜而取之，針三分，禁灸According to this text, ST33 lies 3 cun above the kneecap and is found in a bowing posture; it is needled 0.3 cun and moxibustion is forbidden.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
阴市膝上三寸，直伏兔陷中，拜而取之。 针入三分，禁灸。 主腹满，痿厥少气，腰如水冷，痛不可顾According to this text, ST33 lies 3 cun above the knee, in the depression in line with Futu, found in a bowing posture, needled 0.3 cun with moxibustion forbidden; it was used for abdominal fullness, wei-jue with shortness of qi, and a low back cold as water and too painful to turn.
《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 ↗
通玄賦云：膝胻痛陰市能醫Citing the Tongxuan Fu, the text records that ST33 (Yinshi) was used for pain of the knee and shin.
ST33 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST33 (Yinshi) is located on the anterior aspect of the thigh, on a line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the superolateral corner of the patella, 3 cun superior to the patella in a depression inferior to the Futu (ST32) point. This point is best located with the knee flexed.
ST33 expels cold and damp from the lower jiao and channel, alleviates pain, tonifies Qi in cases of deficiency. Common clinical indications include abdominal fullness, flaccidity and reversal (wei jue), shortness of breath, cold sensation in the lower back and legs as if in cold water, cold hernia with lower abdominal distention, sudden hernia with lower abdominal pain, weakness of the legs, cold in the Futu (ST32) area,low back pain where one cannot turn to look back, leg pain, difficulty walking, leg muscle contracture, foot qi, consumptive thirst (diabetes), knee pain, cold and numbness in the leg, inability to bend or extend the knee.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun. Caution: Multiple classical sources, including the Jia Yi Jing and Qian Jin Yao Fang, explicitly state that moxibustion is forbidden at this point.
ST33 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).