What Fengshi does
Fengshi is treated here as a practical point rather than a curiosity: where it sits, how it is needled, what the tradition says it does, and the skin conditions in this database that name it.
Actions
- Expels Wind
- Removes obstructions from the Channel
Location
7 cun measured from the landmark shown in the diagram and the location text, on the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, 7 cun above the transverse politeal crease.
How to find it
Find the bony landmark first, then feel for the hollow or tender spot the location describes. The point is usually sensitive when pressed.
Deqi
De qi at this point is felt as local distension, heaviness or aching, and may travel a short way along the channel.
A cun is a proportional body measurement, not a fixed length: one cun is about the width of the thumb at the knuckle, 1.5 cun about two finger widths, and 3 cun about the width of four fingers. On an average adult one cun is roughly one inch, but it scales with the person, which is why the texts measure in cun rather than centimetres.
Technique
Needling
Angle: 90 degrees, perpendicular Depth: Standard depth one to two cun. Direction: Needle in the direction the location describes.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is used where the pattern is cold or deficient, in short sessions.
Skin uses
- Sciatica Urticaria Itchy skin Hemiplegia Leg atrophy Herps zoster Leg numbness Knee stiffness Red skin rashes
Point classifications
| Classification | Value |
|---|---|
| Channel | Meridian |
Safety
Who should treat this point
Acupuncture and moxibustion are practitioner procedures. This page is educational and is not a guide to self-treatment.
Caution
Safety flags: a nerve runs in the deeper layer; the reference marks it as a dangerous point. Needle with care, adjust depth to the patient's build, and modify or avoid the point where a flag applies.
Deficiency and constitution
In a depleted patient the point is worked gently and briefly.
Before treatment
Educational reference only. Skin that is spreading, painful, blistering or accompanied by fever needs medical assessment.
Modern evidence and safety
General references for acupuncture safety and skin evidence. They are not specific to this point, and they are not a claim that needling it treats any condition.
- Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies. BMJ Open, 2021. PMID: 34489268.
- Acupuncture for atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 2024. PMID: 39638592.
- Manual acupuncture for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Surgery, 2025. PMID: 40696933.
- Acupuncture in Dermatology: An Update to a Systematic Review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2021. PMID: 32955916.
Evidence note
No controlled trial of this treatment in skin conditions was identified for this entry. What is described here rests on the classical and later materia medica record and on traditional clinical use, not on controlled trial evidence, and it is not a prediction of benefit. Where skin-specific research does exist it is linked above.
Common questions
What does Fengshi do in skin practice?
It is used where the skin picture includes sciatica urticaria itchy skin hemiplegia leg atrophy herps zoster leg numbness knee stiffness red skin rashes, always as part of a combination chosen for the pattern.
How is it needled?
90° (Perpendicular). Standard depth 1.0 - 2.0 cun. De qi: Local distension and soreness at the lateral thigh, often with sensation extending downward along the Gallbladder channel toward the knee. Some patients may experience a spreading, heavy sensation radiating toward the hip region.
Is it safe?
The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve runs through this region. While not a dangerous point, overly aggressive stimulation may cause temporary lateral thigh numbness. Ensure proper patient positioning when using the fingertip method for location, as point position varies slightly between standing and supine positions.