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ST-37 Upper Great Hollow
上巨虚 〔上巨虛〕 shàng jù xū
Alternate names: 巨虚 jù xū, Great Hollow; 巨虚上廉 jù xū shàng lián, Upper Ridge of Great Hollow; 上廉 shàng lián, Upper Ridge; 足之上廉 zú zhī shàng lián, Upper Ridge of the Leg
Channel: ST, foot yáng brightness (yáng míng) stomach channel
Modern location: An acupoint located on the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 6 cùn inferior to ST-35, about one fingerbreadth lateral to the crest of the tibia.
Classical location: Three cùn below Three Lǐ (ST-36), in the depression between the sinew and bone. The point is found with the leg raised. From
Local anatomy: See ST-36.
Action: Rectifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach; frees the intestines and transforms stagnation; courses the channels and regulates qì; clears and disinhibits damp-heat.
Modern indications: Abdominal pain; rumbling intestines; diarrhea; constipation; intestinal welling-abscess (cháng yōng);
Classical indications: Spleen-stomach vacuity; food diarrhea; fullness in the chest and rib-side; swelling of the knee; pain in the umbilicus; nontransformation of grain and water (
Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5‒1.3 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3‒7 cones; pole 5‒20 min.
Point groups: Lower uniting (xià hé) point of the large intestine.
Point name meaning:
This name refers to the point’s location in a hollow of the shin. It is called Upper Great Hollow because it is in the upper part of the hollow, in contrast to Lower Great Hollow (
Anecdotally, there was a type of wild horse in ancient China called 巨虚 jù xū. This type of horse was particularly quick and could roam far and wide. The point name, if taken to be derived from the name of the horse, is a reference to the point’s effectiveness in treating leg disorders, and is also a reference to the traveling nature of qì here. As