ST37 (Shangjuxu, “Shangjuxu”) is the Lower He-Sea of the Large Intestine point of the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun inferior to ST36 (Zusanli), one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia, in the tibialis anterior muscle. The point is located with the leg in a neutral position or slightly dorsiflexed. It regulates the Large Intestine, clears Damp-Heat from the intestines, resolves stagnation in the Stomach and Intestines, alleviates pain, and tonifies Qi and Blood in cases of deficiency.
On the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun inferior to ST36 (Zusanli), one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia, in the tibialis anterior muscle. The point is located with the leg in a neutral position or slightly dorsiflexed.
Perpendicular insertion, 1.0 to 1.5 cun.
Regulates the Large Intestine, clears Damp-Heat from the intestines, resolves stagnation in the Stomach and Intestines, alleviates pain, and tonifies Qi and Blood in cases of deficiency.
Hemiplegia, leg qi (beriberi), numbness of the waist, legs, hands and feet, sore and painful leg and shin, difficulty flexing and extending the limbs, inability to stand for long, wind-water with knee swelling, cold pain in the bone marrow, cold in the Large Intestine, undigested food in the stool, chronic diarrhea, wasting and consumptive disease, cutting pain in the intestines with borborygmus, qi rushing up to the chest, labored breathing, inability to walk, cold damage with heat in the stomach, abdominal and flank pain referring to the navel, insufficient zang-organ qi, spleen and stomach deficiency with dampness causing flaccidity, excessive sweating, and poor appetite.
As the Lower He-Sea point of the Large Intestine, Shangjuxu is a primary point for treating disorders of that organ, especially acute and chronic conditions like diarrhea, dysentery, and appendicitis. It excels at clearing Damp-Heat and regulating intestinal function. It is also a significant local point for pain, numbness, and motor impairment of the lower leg, often used for hemiplegia and atrophy disorders.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
上巨虚三里下三寸，举足取之。 针入八分，灸三壮。 主脏气不足，胁满，脐腹痛，飧泄食不化，偏风腰腿手足不仁，小便难According to this text, ST37 lies 3 cun below Sanli, found with the foot raised, needled 0.8 cun with 3 moxa cones; it was used for insufficient organ qi, fullness of the flanks, pain of the navel and abdomen, sun-xie diarrhoea with undigested food, one-sided wind with numbness of the back, legs, hands and feet, and difficult urination.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷十一 · Source: Wikisource ↗
上廉穴出血，禁酒，忌濕麵The text records letting blood at Shanglian (ST37), after which the patient was to abstain from wine and avoid wet noodle dishes.
《神灸經綸》 Shénjiǔ Jīnglún — Principles of Divine Moxibustion, Wu Yiding, 1851 · 卷之二 · 十二經脈起止 · 胃經四十五穴分寸 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
上巨虛 從足三里下行三寸兩筋骨陷中舉臂取之灸三壯According to this text, ST37 is found 3 cun below Zusanli in the depression between the sinews and bones (the text says it is taken with the arm raised), and receives 3 moxa cones.
ST37 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST37 (Shangjuxu) is located on the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun inferior to ST36 (Zusanli), one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia, in the tibialis anterior muscle. The point is located with the leg in a neutral position or slightly dorsiflexed.
ST37 regulates the Large Intestine, clears Damp-Heat from the intestines, resolves stagnation in the Stomach and Intestines, alleviates pain, and tonifies Qi and Blood in cases of deficiency. Common clinical indications include hemiplegia, leg qi (beriberi), numbness of the waist, legs, hands and feet, sore and painful leg and shin, difficulty flexing and extending the limbs, inability to stand for long, wind-water with knee swelling, cold pain in the bone marrow, cold in the Large Intestine, undigested food in the stool, chronic diarrhea, wasting and consumptive disease, cutting pain in the intestines with borborygmus, qi rushing up to the chest, labored breathing, inability to walk, cold damage with heat in the stomach, abdominal and flank pain referring to the navel, insufficient zang-organ qi, spleen and stomach deficiency with dampness causing flaccidity, excessive sweating, and poor appetite.
Perpendicular insertion, 1.0 to 1.5 cun.
ST37 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).