ST44 (Neiting, “Inner Courtyard”) is the Ying-Spring Point point of the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression in the web margin between the second and third toes, distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint. It clears heat from the Stomach channel, resolves damp-heat in the intestines, calms the spirit, alleviates pain.
On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression in the web margin between the second and third toes, distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint.
Perpendicular or oblique insertion 0.5-1.0 cun.
Clears heat from the Stomach channel, resolves damp-heat in the intestines, calms the spirit, alleviates pain.
Coldness of the four limbs, hand and foot reversal cold, lassitude of the four limbs, aversion to people and the sound of wood, frequent yawning and stretching, shivering, throat painful on the outside, febrile disease with absence of sweating, pain in the lower teeth, aversion to cold, tense eyes, panting and fullness, lockjaw, facial deviation, lack of appetite, malaria, pain in the brain and skin, nosebleed, red and white dysentery, abdominal distension, corpse-like syncope, hand and foot stuffiness, pain in the shin, diarrhea, abdominal pain, foot pain, facial deviation with inability to speak, toothache, gum swelling, lockjaw with inability to open the mouth.
As the Ying-Spring (Water) point of the Stomach channel, Neiting is a primary point for clearing heat from the Yangming channel and its associated organ. It is exceptionally effective for acute conditions like toothache, sore throat, facial pain, and fever. Its ability to clear damp-heat also makes it a key point for treating dysentery, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, especially when combined with ST36. The classical emphasis on treating cold limbs with this point highlights its function in resolving internal heat that obstructs the flow of yang qi to the extremities.
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 ↗
内庭足次指三指歧骨陷中。 针入三分，灸三壮According to this text, ST44 lies in the depression of the forked bones between the second and third toes, and is needled 0.3 cun with 3 moxa cones.
《子午流注針經》 Zǐwǔ Liúzhù Zhēnjīng — Needling Classic of the Midday-Midnight Flow, Yan Mingguang, c. 1153 · 卷下 · 針經井滎歌訣 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
內庭胃滎本陷中，四肢厥逆滿腹疼，
口渴牙痛依穴用The verse records that ST44, the ying point of the stomach in the depression, was used for cold counterflow of the four limbs with fullness and pain of the abdomen, and for thirst and toothache.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷07 · Source: Wikisource ↗
四厥手足悶者，使人久持之，厥熱（一本作逆冷）脛痛，腹脹，皮痛，善伸數欠，惡人與木音，振寒，嗌中引外痛，熱病汗不出，下齒痛，惡寒目急，喘滿寒栗，斷口噤僻，不嗜食，內庭主之The text records that for cold limbs with oppressed hands and feet someone was made to hold them for a long time, and that ST44 was used for jue heat (one variant: counterflow cold) with shin pain, abdominal distension, skin pain, frequent stretching and yawning, aversion to people and the sound of wood, shivering, throat pain drawing outward, febrile disease without sweating, lower toothache, aversion to cold with tense eyes, panting fullness with cold shivers, clenched and deviated mouth, and lack of appetite.
ST44 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST44 (Neiting) is located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression in the web margin between the second and third toes, distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint.
ST44 clears heat from the Stomach channel, resolves damp-heat in the intestines, calms the spirit, alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include coldness of the four limbs, hand and foot reversal cold, lassitude of the four limbs, aversion to people and the sound of wood, frequent yawning and stretching, shivering, throat painful on the outside, febrile disease with absence of sweating, pain in the lower teeth, aversion to cold, tense eyes, panting and fullness, lockjaw, facial deviation, lack of appetite, malaria, pain in the brain and skin, nosebleed, red and white dysentery, abdominal distension, corpse-like syncope, hand and foot stuffiness, pain in the shin, diarrhea, abdominal pain, foot pain, facial deviation with inability to speak, toothache, gum swelling, lockjaw with inability to open the mouth.
Perpendicular or oblique insertion 0.5-1.0 cun.
ST44 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).