Chinese Name: Zusanli (English translation: Leg Three Miles)
Zu San Li (ST36) is commonly used for gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, and stress and fatigue. Zu San Li (ST36) is located four finger widths down from the bottom of your knee cap, along the outer boundary of your shin bone. If you are in the right place, a muscle should pop out as you move your foot up and down. To use this acupressure point, (1) locate the point then (2) apply downward pressure on the muscle, stimulating the area for 4-5 seconds.
Indications:
- Gastric pain, vomiting, dysphagia, abdominal distention, borborygmus, diarrhea, indigestion, dysentery, constipation, abdominal pain, acute mastitis
- Emaciation due to general deficiency, palpitation, shortness of breath, poor appetite, lassitude, dizziness, insomnia
- Cough and asthma
- Pain in the knee joint, apoplexy, hemiplegia, beriberi, edema
- Depressive psychosis and madness
In traditional Chinese literature and practice, this point is frequently stimulated for health promotion and longevity.
There are many extensive studies conducted with Zu San Li (ST36) in the scientific literature.
In neuroimaging studies, stimulation of Zu San Li (ST36) has been shown to affect the limbic and paralimbic systems in the brain which may affect the body’s response to stress . The Journal of Autonomic Neuroscience also published an article that showed that both Nei Guan (P6) and Zu San Li (ST 36) used together have an effect on gastrointestinal motility[1].
