Stomach Channel
Sunken Valley
陷谷Xiàn GǔAnatomical location
On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the joint of the second and third metatarsals.
Main function
Regulates the Stomach, expels Wind, relieves pain, benefits the face and foot.
- Shu-Stream point (Wood)
Therapeutic indications
- Toothache
- facial swelling
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- foot pain
- facial edema
- generalized edema
- pain and swelling of the dorsum of the foot
- abdominal pain
- borborygmi
- fever
- trigeminal neuralgia
Name and classical tradition
Xiangu, 陷谷, is the “sunken valley.” 陷 means sunken, depressed; 谷, the valley. The point lies in the depression between the second and third metatarsals, and the name describes it without controversy among the sources.
The Lingshu (Spiritual Pivot), in the chapter Ben Shu (本輸), devotes a full sentence to it within the sequence of the channel: «胃出於厲兌⋯注於陷谷，陷谷者，上中指內間上行二寸陷者中也，為輸». The Qi of the Stomach emerges at Lidui and flows into Xiangu, which lies in the depression, two cun up from the space next to the middle toe; it is the Shu-Stream point (輸穴). In the Yang channels, the Shu point corresponds to Wood. In the sequence of the Five Shu points, it comes after ST45 and ST44, and before ST42.
