Zusanli ST36

NAMES - MERIDIAN:

• Zusanli, Leg Three Miles, Three mile point – Stomach

• Huyệt Túc tam lý – Kinh Túc dương minh vị

• Les trois lis du pied – Méridien de l'estomac

• 足三里, zú sān lǐ – 足阳明胃经

• [jok] sam ni [족] 삼리 – 족양명위경

Abbreviated in English : ST36

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS:

• Tonifies and harmonizes the Stomach and Spleen, resolves dampness

• Tonifies qi, nourishes blood and yin

• Clears fire, calms the spirit

• Activates the channel and alleviates pain

INDICATIONS :

• Strengthening physical strength

• Stomach pain, abdominal distension, digestive disorders, hydrocephalus, constipation, vomiting, stomach boiling, diarrhea,

• Morning sickness

• Apoplexy, hemiplegia

• Dizziness, insomnia, mania

• Mastitis, blocked milk ducts

• Knees aching, lower extremities weak, beriberi, edema

• Sore throat

• High fever, Cough, asthma

• Emaciation due to general deficiency

• Neurasthenic

ASSOCIATIONS

• Combine with (Moxibustion) CV17, CV6, GB21, LV14, ST18, BL12, SP6, CV24, LU1, CV12 to treat retrograde gas.

• Combine with (Moxibustion) CV6, (Moxibustion) CV12 to treat weak spleen qi, weak stomach qi, abdominal pain, diarrhea.

• Combine with (Moxibustion) LV2, GB41, LV3, HT3, HT5, BL40 to treat pimples growing on shoulders and back.

• Combine with (Moxibustion) SP2 after giving birth, she lost consciousness.

• Combine with BL17, BL18, PC5, BL23, BL20 to treat bleeding due to liver qi disorder

• Combine with BL17, PC6, CV22, CV12 for hiccups.

• Combine with BL25, LI4, PC6, ST25, BL32, CV12 for acute intestinal obstruction.

• Combine with BL43, CV6, PC6, CV4 to treat all kinds of weakness, weakness, heat damage.

• Combine with BL43, DU14, BL23 to cure paralysis.

• Combine with BL43, PC6, BL15 to treat chest pain, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, dizziness.

• Combine with BL60, GB34, GB30, LI4, LI11, LI15, GB31, GB39 treatment of stroke, unconsciousness, wheezing phlegm.

• Combine with BL61, GB12, BL58, KD7, ST42 to treat paralysis and loss of sensation.

• Combine with CV14, SP2, SP3, BL57 for heart attack, stomachache.

• Combine with CV17, CV6 treat conditions in the throat like having a foreign body.

• Combine with CV17, ST12, ST18, BL13, BL12 for long-term cough.

• Combine with CV4, LV3, CV12 to treat damaged spleen yang, damaged stomach yang, cold hands and feet, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.

• Combine with CV7, ST25, CV9 to treat pain around the navel.

• Combine with DU20, DU14, PC5, GB30, LI11, LI15, GB21, GB20, GB39 cerebrovascular accident, unconsciousness, wheezing phlegm.

• Combine with DU20, DU14, PC5, LI11, LI15, GB20 to prevent cerebrovascular accident

• Combine with DU20, GB30, LI4, LI11, LI15, GB20, GB39 to prevent cerebrovascular accident

• Combine with DU20, LI11, LI15, GB31, GB39 to prevent cerebrovascular accident.

• Combine with EX-HN17, BL17, BL18, PC7, PC5, TE5, BL13, BL15, LU9, BL23, ST25, HT5, CV12, BL20 to treat bleeding.

• Combine with EX-HN17, DU9, SP4, CV12, SI4 to treat jaundice, swollen limbs.

• Combine with EX-HN17, LI4, LI11, EX-UE11, BL40 to treat heatstroke, panic disorder.

• Combine with EX-HN17, LI4, LI11, LU7, EX-UE11, CV12, BL40 to treat heatstroke, high fever, vomiting, acute diarrhea.

• Combine with GB30, BL13, GB32 for treatment of patients with hypothermia, sputum, weak qi, and blood stasis.

• Combine with GB30, GB31 to treat numb feet.

• Combine with GB34, GB30, (burning the tail of the needle), treatment of numb feet due to wind and cold.

• Combine with GB34, ST35, GB33 for knee pain.

• Combine with GB34, ST39, PC6 to treat pancreatitis.

• Combine with GB39, SP9, GB34, SP6, LV3 to treat thigh and knee pain.

• Combine with GB40 treats night blindness.

• Combine with GB42 treats in the ears like ticks, back pain wants to break.

• Combine with KD27, CV17, BL13, CV22, CV12 for cough and asthma.

• Combine with KD6, LI4, LI11, GB41, DU26, SP6 to treat swollen limbs and face, high fever does not decrease.

• Combine with KD6, LU7, TE1, CV12, BL20 for diabetes treatment.

• Combine with KI1, DU14, LI4, LI11, GB39 to treat typhoid fever with no decrease.

• Combine with LI11, CV12 to treat abdominal distention due to Hysteria.

• Combine with LI11, PC6, SP6 for high blood pressure.

• Combine with LI4, BL23 to treat tinnitus due to weakness.

• Combine with LI4, EX-HN5, BL1 to treat red and painful eyes.

• Combine with LI4, LI11 to treat fever without lowering.

• Combine with LI4, LI11 treated typhoid for many days without reducing fever.

• Combine with LI4, PC6, CV12 to treat esophageal spasm.

• Combine with LI4, PC6, SP6 to treat constipation.

• Combine with LI4, ST25, CV4 for poor digestion.

• Combine with LU7 for acute asthma.

• Combine with LU8, LU10, LI3, HT5 to treat sweat all over the body.

• Combine with LV13, SP3 treats stomach pain, poor eating.

• Combine with LV2, GB21, GB41, LV3, HT3, HT5, BL40 to treat pimples growing on the back.

• Combine with LV2, KD7, SP6 can't walk.

• Combine with LV2, LI4, LI11 to treat boils growing all over the body.

• Combine with LV2, ST26, CV4, ST25, ST37 for chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

• Combine with LV3, LV4 to treat walking is painful and difficult.

• Combine with PC5, CV12 to treat vomiting.

• Combine with PC6, CV12 treats stomach pain.

• Combine with PC6, CV13 treatment of pregnancy vomiting.

• Combine with PC6, LU10 treat eating but not swallowing.

• Combine with SP1 to treat low blood pressure.

• Combine with SP10, SP6, GB39 blood qi treatment is damaged, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are low.

• Combine with SP4, BL62, GB39 for weak legs without strength.

• Combine with SP4, PC6, CV12 to treat vomiting.

• Combine with SP4, SP2, PC6, SP3, BL57 to treat spleen, heart system, pain like a needle.

• Combine with SP4, ST44 to treat spleen damage, abdominal distension.

• Combine with SP6, BL22, ST25, CV12 for chronic dysentery.

• Combine with SP9, LI4, CV4, CV8, ST25, CV3, CV12 for chronic dysentery.

• Combine with SP9, SP4, PC5, HT4, LV3 treats 9 types of heartache.

• Combine with ST19 treats stagnation of gas.

• Combine with ST30 to treat sunstroke, sweating a lot but diarrhea.

• Combine with ST39, GB43, GB41, ST18, KD23, SP18, ST16 to treat swollen breasts.

• Combine with ST44 to treat abdominal distension.

• Combine with ST6, LI4, LU10, CV24 to treat tight teeth, misaligned eyes, distorted mouth.

• Combine with TE2 for sudden deafness.

• Combine with TE6, CV17, CV6, ST18, CV12 to treat bleeding disorders.

• Combine with TE6, LI11, SP6 to treat blocked menstruation due to blood stagnation.

References :

Some documents of traditional medicine of China and Vietnam

TECHNIQUES

• Needle perpendicularly 0.5-1.5 cun.

• Moxibustion.

LOCATION AND FIND THE ACUPOINT:

Please watch the instructions in the video below the article

SOME NOTABLE RECENT APPLIED STUDIES:

• Hsieh, Y. L., Chou, L. W., & Yang, C. C. (2011). Acupuncture to reduce nausea and vomiting in surgical patients. Journal of periAnesthesia Nursing, 26(5), 330-337. This study examined the effect of acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on reducing nausea and vomiting in surgical patients.

• Kim, T. H., Kim, H. I., & Namgung, U. (2015). Electroacupuncture stimulation at ST36 accelerates the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after laparoscopic surgery: a randomised controlled trial. Acupuncture in Medicine, 33(4), 284-288. This study investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after laparoscopic surgery.

• Li, Y., Liang, F. R., & Lu, A. P. (2012). Effect of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) on the functional connectivity of the brain in ischemic stroke patients: a randomized, Longitudinal fMRI Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2012. This study investigated the effect of acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on the functional connectivity of the brain in ischemic stroke patients using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

• Liu, J., Tao, J., Wang, X., Chen, L., & Li, X. (2017). Acupuncture at the ST36 acupoint increases glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle by activating AMPK. Acupuncture in Medicine, 35(3), 180-185. This study investigated the mechanism by which acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint improves glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle.

• Lü, D., Yan, W., & Song, Y. (2018). Electroacupuncture stimulation of acupoints of stomach meridian improves glucose metabolism in insulin resistance rats associated with increased expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018. This study investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on glucose metabolism and the expression of glucose transporter 4 in skeletal muscle in insulin-resistant rats.

• Wang, H., Zhang, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2017). Clinical observation on the effects of acupuncture plus self-care in the treatment of hypertension. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 15(3), 184-187. This study observed the effects of acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint combined with self-care on hypertension in patients.

• Xu, F., Huang, J., Li, M., & Li, X. (2017). Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in Medicine, 35(6), 417-424. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of acupuncture, including at the Zusanli acupoint, for chronic fatigue syndrome.

• Xu, J., Chen, L., Yu, R., & Zhang, W. (2019). Effects of acupressure on anxiety and depression of patients with Parkinson's disease. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39(2), 235-240. This study examined the effect of acupressure at the Zusanli acupoint on anxiety and depression in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Xu, W., Liang, C., Chen, Y., & Huang, J. (2017). Effects of moxibustion on pain and immune function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37(2), 192-198. This study examined the effects of moxibustion at the Zusanli acupoint on pain and immune function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

• Zhang, Y. F., Yang, J. H., & Zhang, X. M. (2016). Influence of acupuncture at Zusanli point (ST36) on serum TNF-α and IL-2 levels in the patients with sepsis. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 22(5), 348-353. This study investigated the effect of acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2 in patients with sepsis.

• Zhao, M., Liu, Z., Su, J., Liu, Y., & Yan, S. (2014). Effects of electro-acupuncture on gastric myoelectric activity in rabbits. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 20(9), 2267. This study investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on gastric myoelectric activity in rabbits.

• Zhou, W., Fu, L. W., & Tjen-A-Looi, S. C. (2015). Afferent mechanisms underlying stimulation modality-related modulation of acupuncture-related cardiovascular responses. Journal of Applied Physiology, 118(5), 592-602. This study investigated the afferent mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular responses to acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint.

NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS THESE STUDIES:

Notable highlights from these studies include the demonstrated effectiveness of acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint in improving functional connectivity of the brain, reducing pain and inflammation, improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, reducing nausea and vomiting, accelerating post-surgical recovery, and improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and hypertension.