ST35 (Dubi, “Dubi”) is an acupuncture point on the Stomach Meridian. It is located with the knee flexed, this point is located on the anterior aspect of the knee, in the depression just below the patella and lateral to the patellar ligament. It based on the classical texts, this point dispels wind-damp, activates the channel, alleviates pain, and benefits the knee joint.
With the knee flexed, this point is located on the anterior aspect of the knee, in the depression just below the patella and lateral to the patellar ligament.
With the knee flexed, needle perpendicularly 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Alternatively, needle obliquely in a medial and inferior direction toward the center of the knee joint, or towards the medial Xiyan (MN-LE-16).
Based on the classical texts, this point dispels wind-damp, activates the channel, alleviates pain, and benefits the knee joint.
Knee pain, numbness in the knee, difficulty flexing and extending the knee, difficulty kneeling and rising, leg weakness, cold sensation in the knee, foot weakness (beriberi).
ST35 is a primary local point for a wide array of knee disorders, especially those involving pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Its classical indications emphasize its role in treating pain, numbness, and weakness affecting the joint's function. Moxibustion is frequently mentioned, particularly for cold conditions or chronic weakness of the leg, such as in post-stroke recovery or beriberi.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
犢鼻 膝臏下，胻骨上，俠解大筋陷中，形如牛鼻，故名。 素註，針六分。 銅人針三分，灸三壯According to this text, ST35 lies below the kneecap and above the shin bone, in the depression beside the large tendon, shaped like an ox's nose, hence its name; the Suwen commentary gives 0.6 cun needling, the Tongren 0.3 cun with 3 moxa cones.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
犊鼻膝头眼外侧大筋陷中。 针入六分，禁灸。 主膝中痛不仁，难跪起。 膝膑痈溃者不可治，不溃者可治According to this text, ST35 lies in the depression of the large tendon lateral to the knee eye, needled 0.6 cun with moxibustion forbidden; it was used for knee pain with numbness and difficulty kneeling and rising, and it states that a ruptured abscess of the kneecap could not be treated, while an unruptured one could.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之一·神照集 · 足陽明胃經圖穴十 · 足陽明胃經所發四十五穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
犢鼻二穴，在膝蓋骨下，胻骨上，夾解大筋中，形如牛鼻，故名。 《針經》刺入六分，灸三壯According to this text, ST35 lies below the kneecap and above the shin bone, beside the large tendon, shaped like an ox's nose, hence its name; the Zhenjing gives needling of 0.6 cun and 3 moxa cones.
《黃帝內經》 Huángdì Nèijīng — The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, c. 2nd–1st c. BCE · za-bing · Source: Wikisource ↗
膝中痛，取犢鼻，以員利鍼，發而間之The text records that for pain within the knee, ST35 was needled with the round-sharp needle, inserting and then repeating at intervals.
ST35 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST35 (Dubi) is located with the knee flexed, this point is located on the anterior aspect of the knee, in the depression just below the patella and lateral to the patellar ligament.
ST35 based on the classical texts, this point dispels wind-damp, activates the channel, alleviates pain, and benefits the knee joint. Common clinical indications include knee pain, numbness in the knee, difficulty flexing and extending the knee, difficulty kneeling and rising, leg weakness, cold sensation in the knee, foot weakness (beriberi).
With the knee flexed, needle perpendicularly 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Alternatively, needle obliquely in a medial and inferior direction toward the center of the knee joint, or towards the medial Xiyan (MN-LE-16). Caution: One classic warns that if the patellar area is swollen and ulcerated, this point should not be treated. Another states that needling the patella and causing a leakage of fluid can lead to lameness, urging caution. A third text mentions that needling Dubi can result in an inability to extend the leg.
ST35 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).