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ST28

Stomach Channel

Water Channel

水道Shuǐ Dào

Use caution during pregnancy

Lower abdomen, acts on the waters of the Lower Jiao; avoid.

Anatomical location

3 cun below the navel, 2 cun lateral to the anterior midline, at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.

Main function

Regulates the Bladder, promotes urination, eliminates Dampness, relieves abdominal pain.

Therapeutic indications

  • Urinary retention
  • dysuria
  • edema
  • abdominal pain
  • dysmenorrhea
  • infertility
  • hypogastric pain
  • hernia

Name and classical tradition

Shuidao (水道) is the “water passage.” 水 is water, the body fluids; 道 is a road or conduit. The name is functional and direct: the point regulates the passage of fluids, and among its classical indications are urinary retention and edema. It needs no further explanation, and no source looks for one.

The first work to record it is the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). The reference works attribute no alias to it, and no ancient commentator took it up. Its lower neighbor, ST29, serves precisely as the reference in the Jiayi Jing for locating it one cun below.

Location of point ST28, Water Channel
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View point on the 3D modelST28 on the anatomy
Needling techniquePerpendicular insertion 0.8-1.2 cun, or oblique downward. Use caution in pregnancy.
Depth0.8-1.2 cun
MoxibustionApplicable (5-10 minutes, indirect moxa)
PrecautionsUse caution in pregnancy.
Cover of the guide “Protocols for the 20 most common patterns”

Free guide · PDF

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.

Do you use ST28 with your patients?

In the Clinic you record it in the patient's file, next to the tongue, the pulse and the measurements, so at the next session you know exactly what you used. The Atlas is built in.

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