ST-7 - Below the Joint
下关 - Xià guān
Point Region: Face
Location & How to Find
Anatomical Location: On the face, in the hollow between the midpoint of the lower edge of the cheekbone's arch (the zygomatic arch) and the notch of the lower jaw in front of the ear. With the mouth closed, it is in the hollow below the arch, directly below GB-3.
How to Locate:
- Close your mouth
- Find the cheekbone's arch in front of your ear
- The point is in the hollow just below its midpoint
How to Apply Pressure
With the mouth closed, rest a fingertip in the hollow below the cheekbone's arch at ST-7 and keep pressure light; stop at once if the jaw clicks, locks, or hurts. Avoid it with TMJ dysfunction, after recent TMJ surgery, or after a jaw dislocation.
Traditional Indications
In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:
- Toothache
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Jaw spasm
- Facial deviation
- TMJ disorders
- Ear pain
- Jaw clicking
- Facial numbness
Related Health Concerns
Related Acupoints
Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.
Important Precautions
Avoid this point with:
- Recent TMJ surgery
- Severe TMJ dysfunction
- Jaw dislocation
Take care:
- Stop if jaw clicking or locking occurs