What Xiangu does
A Shu-Stream point at the ankle end of the Stomach channel, Xiangu is reached in foot and lower-leg presentations. This page keeps to what the point does structurally and to the safety of needling there.
Actions
- Removes Obstructions from the Channel
- Regulates the Stomach and the Intestines
- Regulates the Spleen and resolves Oedema
Location
With the foot relaxed, follow the gap between the second and third toes up to the web and measure two cun back along the dorsum; the point lies in the depression at that level between the metatarsal shafts.
How to find it
Mark the web between the second and third toes, then slide back two cun keeping to the groove between the bones. The point is usually a little tender, and in a relaxed foot the depression is easy to feel.
Deqi
De qi is felt locally as heaviness, distension or a dull ache, sometimes spreading across the dorsum of the foot.
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 half a to half a 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
- Belching Borborygmi Swollen eyes Toe stiffness Abdominal pain Oedema of face Foot dorsum pain Abdominal fullness Foot dorsum swelling Abdominal distension
Point classifications
| Classification | Value |
|---|---|
| Five phase | Wood-Mu |
| Transporting type | Stream-Shu Point |
| Mother-child role | Child (Reducing) |
Classical record
The Stomach emerges at Lidui... flows into Xiangu. Xiangu is located 2 cun above the space between the second and third toes, in a depression; it is the Shu-Stream point.
Classical citation for this point.
For water retention with fluid accumulation, fullness of the chest and hypochondrium, needle Xiangu and bleed it for immediate relief. For facial swelling and eye abscesses, needle Xiangu and bleed for immediate relief.
Classical citation for this point.
Safety
Who should treat this point
Acupuncture and moxibustion are practitioner procedures, and this page is educational rather than a guide to self-treatment.
Caution
Needle with the foot supported and relaxed, at the shallow depth the anatomy allows; vessels and tendons lie close to the surface. Avoid deep needling, and adjust or omit the point where the foot is swollen, infected or recently injured.
Deficiency and constitution
In a depleted or very anxious patient, gentle and brief stimulation is enough.
Before treatment
Educational reference only. A foot that is hot, spreading, very painful or accompanied by fever needs medical assessment before any point is needled.
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 Xiangu do in skin practice?
It is used where the skin picture includes belching borborygmi swollen eyes toe stiffness abdominal pain oedema of face foot dorsum pain abdominal fullness foot dorsum swelling abdominal distension, always as part of a combination chosen for the pattern.
How is it needled?
90° (Perpendicular) / 45° (Oblique). Standard depth 0.3 - 0.5 cun. De qi: Local distension and soreness at the point site, which may radiate along the dorsum of the foot toward the toes. Some patients experience a sensation of heaviness or numbness between the metatarsal bones.
Is it safe?
The point is located in a relatively thin-skinned area between metatarsal bones. Avoid excessive depth to prevent discomfort. The foot dorsal venous network lies superficially in this region, so gentle insertion is recommended to minimize bruising. In patients with peripheral vascular disease or diabetes, extra care should be taken with needling and moxa application.