Stomach Channel

Qihu ST-13

Chinese: 气户

Pinyin: Qì Hù

Location

About 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline, below the midpoint of the clavicle. 

How to locate

From the anterior midline, palpate 4 cun along the clavicle to the midpoint. Qihu ST-13 is located at the lower border of the clavicle, while Quepen ST-12 is on the other side of clavicle. 

Main actions

  1. Descends Rebellious Qi
  2. Opens the chest

Indications

Asthma Coughing Dyspnoea Wheezing Hiccuping Chest pain Stiff neck Loss of taste Chest fullness Upper back pain Chest distension Vomiting of blood Lateral costal region fullness

Needling

0.3–0.5 cun obliquely in a lateral or medial direction or transversely along the channel pathway.

Caution: Pneumothorax, subclavicular artery/vein.

Commentary for Qihu ST-13

Qihu ST-13 is not a major point of the Stomach Channel. Its main function is to descend Rebellious Qi and open the chest, characterized by distention and fullness in the chest or lateral costal region.