Many books have been written about the acupuncture point ST36 (Zu San Li). Chinese soldiers used to stop every three miles and massage Stomach 36 for renewed energy. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zu San Li is one of the most popular points of all acupuncture points. The point controls the work of the organs that are located in the lower half of the body and the work of the spinal cord in the parts that are responsible for the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, digestion tract, genital organs, kidneys, adrenal glands. Zu San Li translates as “leg three distances.”
Zu San Li is very easy to locate. It is located on the outer calf, about four finger widths under the knee bone.
According to TCM, by massaging the Zu Sen Li point regularly, you can help boost your immune function, help normalize your blood pressure, glucose and insulin. Based on extensive 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.
How to do it:
Massage the Zu San Li point in the morning 9 times in a circular motion in a clockwise direction on each leg (9 times on one and nine times on the other leg). Do this for 10 minutes. When applying acupressure, try to relax and breath deeply as you massage the area.
Disclaimer: do not substitute this for medical advice, this article is for educational and informational purposes only.
- Chou JW, Chang YH, Chang CS, Chen GH. The effect of different frequency electrical acu-stimulation on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy subjects. Hepatogastroenterology. 2003 Mar-Apr;50(50):582-6.
- Pavao TS, Vianna P, Pillat MM, Machado AB, Bauer ME.Acupuncture is effective to attenuate stress and stimulate lymphocyte proliferation in the elderly. Neurosci Lett. 2010 Oct 22;484(1):47-50. Epub 2010 Aug 13.
- UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. Acupressure Point ST36: Stomach 36 or Zu San Li. Zu San Li (ST36) is commonly used for gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, as well as stress and fatigue. https://exploreim.ucla.edu/self-care/acupressure-point-st36/
