Xiaguan (ST7)
Xiaguan (ST7), “Below the Joint”, is a point on the Stomach meridian. It is point 7 of the 45 on the channel. Activates the local channel, relieves pain in the jaw and TMJ, benefits the ear.
Location
In the depression anterior to the mandibular condyle, at the zygomatic arch, with mouth closed.
Functions according to tradition
Activates the local channel, relieves pain in the jaw and TMJ, benefits the ear.
Traditional indications
- Jaw pain
- Bruxism
- Tinnitus
- Deafness
- Facial paralysis
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
What its classification means
Two or more channels meet here, so it is credited with acting on all of them.
Precautions
Area containing the facial nerve and maxillary vessels: needle carefully and avoid excessive depth.
Points on other channels with similar indications
They share several traditional indications with this point. Comparing them helps understand why one or the other is chosen.
- TE17 Yifeng (San Jiao (Triple Burner)): Deafness, Facial paralysis, Tinnitus, Trigeminal neuralgia
- GB2 Tinghui (Gallbladder): Deafness, Jaw pain, Tinnitus
- GB3 Shangguan (Gallbladder): Deafness, Jaw pain, Tinnitus
- TE21 Ermen (San Jiao (Triple Burner)): Deafness, Jaw pain, Tinnitus
- GB10 Fubai (Gallbladder): Deafness, Tinnitus
- GB11 Touqiaoyin (Gallbladder): Deafness, Tinnitus
Point profile
- Code
- ST7
- Pinyin name
- Xià Guān
- Characters
- 下关
- Translation
- Below the Joint
- Meridian
- Stomach
- Element
- Earth
- Classification
- Crossing point
- Topics
- Jaw & TMJ, Ear, Facial Pain
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
