ST38 (Tiaokou, “Tiaokou”) is an acupuncture point on the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 8 cun inferior to Dubi (ST35) and 2 cun inferior to Shangjuxu (ST37), on the line connecting ST35 and Jiexi (ST41). This places it one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia. It dispels wind-damp, alleviates pain, harmonizes the Stomach and Intestines, and opens the channels and collaterals of the leg.
On the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 8 cun inferior to Dubi (ST35) and 2 cun inferior to Shangjuxu (ST37), on the line connecting ST35 and Jiexi (ST41). This places it one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.
Perpendicular insertion, 1.0 to 1.5 cun.
Dispels wind-damp, alleviates pain, harmonizes the Stomach and Intestines, and opens the channels and collaterals of the leg.
Foot numbness, foot weakness or inability to walk, foot drop, foot pain, foot heat, inability to stand for long, wet bi (damp impediment), cold in the shin, knee pain, shin pain, leg cramps, swelling of the shin, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder.
Tiaokou is a primary distal point for disorders of the lower leg, particularly for weakness, pain, and numbness along the Stomach channel. It is renowned for its empirical use in treating shoulder pain, especially frozen shoulder, on the contralateral side. This is a classic example of 'treating the lower body for upper body disease', where strong needle stimulation at ST38 while the patient moves the affected shoulder can yield immediate improvement in range of motion and pain.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 足陽明及股凡三十穴第三十二 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
條口二穴，主膝脛寒酸，緩縱不收，濕痹麻木，足下熱，不能久立，腳痛胻腫，轉筋The text records that ST38 was used for cold and aching knees and shins, slackness without recovery, damp bi with numbness, heat under the soles, inability to stand for long, foot pain with swollen shins, and cramps.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
条口三里下五寸。 针入三分，禁灸。 主湿痹胫寒，足膝酸痛缓弱According to this text, ST38 lies 5 cun below Sanli, needled 0.3 cun with moxibustion forbidden; it was used for damp bi with cold shins and aching, weak, slack feet and knees.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
條口，在下廉上一寸，足陽明脈氣所發，刺入八分，灸三壯According to this text, ST38 lies 1 cun above Xialian, where the qi of the foot yangming vessel issues, and is needled 0.8 cun with 3 moxa cones.
《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 ↗
條口 在上巨墟下二寸舉足取之（針五分。 灸三壯）治足麻酸寒According to this text, ST38 lies 2 cun below Shangjuxu, found with the foot raised, needled 0.5 cun with 3 moxa cones, and was used for numb, aching and cold feet.
ST38 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST38 (Tiaokou) is located on the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 8 cun inferior to Dubi (ST35) and 2 cun inferior to Shangjuxu (ST37), on the line connecting ST35 and Jiexi (ST41). This places it one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.
ST38 dispels wind-damp, alleviates pain, harmonizes the Stomach and Intestines, and opens the channels and collaterals of the leg. Common clinical indications include foot numbness, foot weakness or inability to walk, foot drop, foot pain, foot heat, inability to stand for long, wet bi (damp impediment), cold in the shin, knee pain, shin pain, leg cramps, swelling of the shin, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder.
Perpendicular insertion, 1.0 to 1.5 cun. Caution: The Zhen Jiu Da Cheng lists Tiaokou in the 'Song of Points Forbidden to Moxibustion'. However, multiple other classics, including the Jia Yi Jing, Zi Sheng Jing, and Zhen Jiu Ju Ying, explicitly recommend moxibustion. This suggests the prohibition was not a universal consensus.
ST38 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).