Acupuncture Point Tiaokou (ST38)
Location:
Sitting upright with flexed knees; vertically below ZusanliST36 (Zusanli (ST36) He-Sea Point), on the same plane of the midpoint of the line connecting DubiST35 (Dubi (ST35)) and the apex of lateral malleolus.

Function:
Relaxing the muscles and tendons, and activating the flow of qi and blood in the channels and collaterals, and regulating the flow of qi to normalize Function of the stomach and spleen.

Regional Anatomy:
Skin-subcutaneous tissue-anterior tibial muscle-interosseous membrane of leg-posterior tibial muscle.
In the superficial layer, there is the lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf. In the deep layer, there are the anterior tibial artery and vein and the deep peroneal nerve. If the needle is inserted too deep, it may injure the posterior tibial artery and vein.

Indications:
Numbness, soreness and pain in the knee and leg, weakness and motor impairment of the foot, pain and motor impairment of the shoulder, abdominal pain.

Prescription:
Combined use with TianshuST25 (Tianshu (ST25) Front-Mu Point of the Large Intestine) for treatment of enteritis; and with HuantiaoGB30 (Huantiao (GB30 )) for treatment of motor impairment, numbness and pain of the lower extremitis; puncturing from TiaokouST38 (Tiaokou (ST38)) towards ChengshanBL57 (Chengshan (BL57)) for treatment of frozen shoulder.

Methods:
Insert the needle perpendicularly 1.0-1.5 cun deep; needling response: local sensation of distension, radiating towards the foot; moxibustion: using 3-5 moxa-cones, or mild moxibustion for 15 min.