ST9 (Renying, “Man's Welcome”) is the Window of Heaven point of the Stomach Meridian. It is located on the neck, level with the tip of the laryngeal prominence, in the depression on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, where the pulsation of the common carotid artery is palpable, 1.5 cun lateral to the laryngeal prominence. It regulates Qi and Blood, benefits the throat and neck, clears Lung heat, calms wheezing.
On the neck, level with the tip of the laryngeal prominence, in the depression on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, where the pulsation of the common carotid artery is palpable, 1.5 cun lateral to the laryngeal prominence.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3-0.5 cun, avoiding the carotid artery by displacing it medially with the fingers of the palpating hand. The needle is inserted between the artery and the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Regulates Qi and Blood, benefits the throat and neck, clears Lung heat, calms wheezing.
swelling and pain of the throat, scrofula, goiter, asthma, wheezing, hiccups, chest fullness, dizziness, flushed face, headache, toothache, vomiting, sudden turmoil disorder, hypertension.
Renying is a crucial point for both diagnosis and treatment, traditionally used to compare its pulse with the Cunkou pulse to assess the balance of Yin and Yang. Clinically, it is a primary point for disorders of the throat and neck, such as goiter, scrofula, and sore throat, due to its ability to regulate local qi and blood. As a Window of Heaven point, it also addresses imbalances between the head and body, treating conditions like dizziness, flushed face, and hypertension.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《類經》 Lèijīng — Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 卷一 · Source: Wikisource ↗
蓋三陽之氣，以陽明胃氣爲本，而陽明動脉曰人迎，在结喉兩旁一寸五分，故曰According to this text, the pulsating vessel of yangming is called Renying (ST9) and lies 1.5 cun on either side of the laryngeal prominence; the qi of the three yang is said to be rooted in the stomach qi of yangming.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷09 · Source: Wikisource ↗
刺人迎，入四分，不幸殺人The text records that ST9 was needled 0.4 cun, and warns that if this goes wrong it can kill the patient.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷26 · Source: Wikisource ↗
人迎在頸大筋脈，動應手，夾結候旁以候五臟氣，不灸According to this text, ST9 lies on the large sinew of the neck where a vessel pulsates under the hand, beside the laryngeal prominence, and is used to examine the qi of the five zang organs; moxibustion is not applied.
ST9 is one of 45 points on the Stomach Meridian. Nearby points:
ST9 (Renying) is located on the neck, level with the tip of the laryngeal prominence, in the depression on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, where the pulsation of the common carotid artery is palpable, 1.5 cun lateral to the laryngeal prominence.
ST9 regulates Qi and Blood, benefits the throat and neck, clears Lung heat, calms wheezing. Common clinical indications include swelling and pain of the throat, scrofula, goiter, asthma, wheezing, hiccups, chest fullness, dizziness, flushed face, headache, toothache, vomiting, sudden turmoil disorder, hypertension.
Perpendicular insertion 0.3-0.5 cun, avoiding the carotid artery by displacing it medially with the fingers of the palpating hand. The needle is inserted between the artery and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Caution: Adjacent to the carotid artery — palpate and avoid the vessel; do not needle into a pulsating artery. Moxibustion is contraindicated; it is said to cause facial swelling and closure of the eyes. Needling must avoid the common carotid artery.
ST9 is a point on the Stomach Meridian (Zú Yángmíng Wèijīng).