Lower he-sea point of large intestine.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Ju" (巨), big; "xu" (虛), void, empty; it refers to the large gap between tibia and fibula bones of lower leg.Suwen-Zhenjie Pian: "Juxu is the depression that appears when foot is raised." To distinguish it from Xiajuxu (ST39), where "Xia" (下) refers to below, Qianjin Yifang adds the character "Shang" (上, upper) before it. In Lingshu-Benshu, it is referred to as "Juxu Shanglian" (巨虛上廉), which carries the same meaning.

bubble_chart Location

Shangjuxu (ST37) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Lingshu-Benshu: "Three cun below Zusanli."

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: tibialis anterior.
• Nerve: lateral sural cutaneous nerve and the cutaneous branch of saphenous nerve; the deep layer is deep peroneal nerve.
• Vessels: anterior tibial artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Perpendicular insertion 1 to 2 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 5 ~ 7 rounds, moxibustion with moxa stick 10 ~ 20 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Regulate spleen and stomach, promote intestines and resolve stagnation, soothe meridian and regulate qi.

• Classical: spleen-stomach weakness, lienteric diarrhea, large intestinal carbuncle, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, swollen knees, beriberi, sharp pain and gurgling sounds in intestines, pain in navel, indigestion, wheezing and inability to stand long, consumptive disease, hemiplegia and leg weakness, numbness in hands and feet.
• Modern: appendicitis, acute and chronic gastritis, acute and chronic enteritis, bacillary dysentery, lower limb paralysis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Enteritis, bacillary dysentery: Shangjuxu (ST37), Tianshu (ST25).