ST8 (Touwei, “Touwei”) is the Meeting point of ST, GB, Yangwei point of the Stomach Meridian. It is located at the corner of the forehead, 0.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 4.5 cun lateral to the midline of the head. It dispels wind, alleviates pain, benefits the eyes, and calms wheezing.
At the corner of the forehead, 0.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 4.5 cun lateral to the midline of the head.
Subcutaneous insertion, 0.5 to 1.0 cun, often directed posteriorly along the scalp.
Dispels wind, alleviates pain, benefits the eyes, and calms wheezing.
Headache, splitting headache, one-sided headache, eye pain as if falling out, blurred vision, excessive tearing upon wind exposure, eyelid twitching, dizziness, wheezing with vexation and fullness, vomiting foam, sweating.
As a primary local point for the head, Touwei is essential for treating various types of headaches, especially one-sided migraines and frontal headaches related to the Yangming channel. Its ability to clear wind and brighten the eyes makes it effective for eye pain, blurred vision, and excessive tearing. The classical prohibition on moxibustion is a significant clinical note to observe.
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 ↗
頭維 額角入髮際，本神旁一寸五分，神庭旁四寸五，足陽明少陽二脈之會According to this text, ST8 lies at the corner of the forehead where it enters the hairline, 1.5 cun beside Benshen and 4.5 cun beside Shenting, and is a meeting point of the foot yangming and shaoyang vessels.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
頭維，在額角髮際俠本神兩傍各一寸五分，足少陽、陽維之會，刺入五分，禁不可灸According to this text, ST8 lies at the hairline at the corner of the forehead, 1.5 cun on each side beside Benshen, a meeting point of the foot shaoyang and yangwei; it is needled 0.5 cun and moxibustion is forbidden.
《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 ↗
頭維 在額角入髮際督脈神庭旁四寸半。 足陽明少陽之會（針三分。 沒皮針向下。 禁灸。 ）治頭目痛淚出According to this text, ST8 lies at the corner of the forehead within the hairline, 4.5 cun beside Shenting of the Du vessel, a meeting point of the foot yangming and shaoyang; it is needled 0.3 cun with the needle running downward under the skin, moxibustion is forbidden, and it was used for pain of the head and eyes with tearing.
《扁鵲神應針灸玉龍經》 Biǎn Què Shényìng Zhēnjiǔ Yùlóng Jīng — Bian Que's Jade Dragon Classic of Divinely Responsive Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1329 · 眉目间痛 · Source: Wikisource ↗
若是目疼亦同治，剌入头维疾自康The verse records that eye pain was dealt with in the same way, by needling into ST8 (Touwei), after which the ailment was said to settle by itself.
ST8 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST8 (Touwei) is located at the corner of the forehead, 0.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 4.5 cun lateral to the midline of the head.
ST8 dispels wind, alleviates pain, benefits the eyes, and calms wheezing. Common clinical indications include headache, splitting headache, one-sided headache, eye pain as if falling out, blurred vision, excessive tearing upon wind exposure, eyelid twitching, dizziness, wheezing with vexation and fullness, vomiting foam, sweating.
Subcutaneous insertion, 0.5 to 1.0 cun, often directed posteriorly along the scalp. Caution: Classical texts consistently forbid moxibustion on this point. The Zi Sheng Jing mentions a conflicting account from the Ming Tang which allows needling to 4.5 fen but warns that moxibustion causes swelling under the eye as large as a fist.
ST8 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).