ST-21 - Beam Gate

梁门 - Liáng mén

Point Region: Upper abdomen

ST

Stomach Meridian

足阳明胃经 - Zú Yángmíng Wèi Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the upper abdomen, 4 cun above the centre of the navel, 2 cun out from the midline. It lies 2 cun out from CV-12.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find CV-12, halfway between the navel and the bottom of the breastbone
  2. Move two thumb-widths out to the side
  3. The point is there
ST-21 (Beam Gate) acupressure point location: On the upper abdomen, 4 cun above the centre of the navel, 2 cun out from the midline.

How to Apply Pressure

After identifying ST-21, use gentle surface pressure on the upper abdomen and never press deeply. Avoid it during pregnancy, after recent abdominal surgery, or with acute abdominal symptoms that need medical assessment.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Indigestion
  • Stomach problems
  • Digestive disorders

Related Health Concerns

Stomach Cramps

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Pregnancy
  • Severe gastric bleeding
  • Acute intestinal obstruction