ST-45 - Strict Mouth

厉兑 - Lì duì

Point Region: Toe

ST

Stomach Meridian

足阳明胃经 - Zú Yángmíng Wèi Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the second toe, at the corner of the nail on the outer side (toward the third toe), about 0.1 cun from the corner, where the side edge of the nail meets the line of its base.

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. Look at your second toenail
  2. Find its corner at the base, on the side facing your third toe
  3. The point is just beside this corner
ST-45 (Strict Mouth) acupressure point location: On the second toe, at the corner of the nail on the outer side (toward the third toe), about 0.1 cun from the corner, where the side edge of the nail meets the line of its base.

How to Apply Pressure

When ST-45 is located beside the second toenail, use only a light fingertip touch and do not dig into the nail bed. Avoid it if the skin around the nail is broken, infected, or recently injured, and stop if it hurts.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Stomach pain
  • Sore throat
  • Tooth decay
  • Cold feet
  • Edema
  • Mental agitation
  • Throat inflammation

Related Health Concerns

Stomach CrampsCold and Flu OnsetAnxiety

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Broken skin around nail
  • Severe nail infections
  • Recent nail injury