(279) ST43 (Sunken Valley)

[HB KIM]

ST43 (Xian Gu; Sunken Valley)

1. Location
Acupuncture Manual: On the dorsum of the foot, between the second and third metatarsal bones, in the depression 1 cun proximal to ST44 (Neiting).
CAM: In the depression just distal to the junction of the second and third metatarsal bones.

The "Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (1601)" says that ST43 is located 2 cun posterior to ST44, a location similar to the CAM point location.  In Master Tung style acupuncture, there is a point called "Men Jin (Door Metal)", and it is located in the same place as the Great Compendium location of ST43.  More texts tend to describe this location for ST43, and most acupuncturists tend to use this location in practice.


2. Modern Acupuncture Indications (Acupuncture Manual, CAM)
2-a. Edema: ST43 can treat both foot edema as a local point and facial/eye edema as a distal point.  The dorsum of the foot, where ST43 is located, images the facial area.  The point's name is "Sunken Valley", and one can imagine the valley (face, eye, foot) out of which the water (edema) flows.  In the case of foot edema, a three-edged needle or a lancet is used to release the yellow viscous fluid from the edematous area.

2-b. Stomach Disorders: As a Stomach channel point, ST43 can be used for the treatment of abdominal distention and borborygmus.

2-c. Bi Syndrome: As a Shu-Stream point of the Stomach channel, ST43 is a good point for Bi syndrome, especially for febrile painful obstructions (Heat Bi), which manifests with redness, swelling, heat, and joint pain.  It can be combined with LI4 for this kind of Bi syndrome.


3. Indications in Master Tung Style Acupuncture    
"Men Jin (Door Metal = ST43)" is a commonly used Master Tung style acupuncture point.
3-a. Diarrhea: Men Jin (Door Metal) can treat both acute and chronic diarrhea.  It is a very good point for (gastro)enteritis.  Since it is a Wood point located on the Stomach channel, which is Earth, it is good for those cases involving Wood overacting on Earth.  In chronic diarrhea, Kidney deficiency is involved, and since this point is located close to the junction of two bones, it can benefit the Kidney as well.

NOTE: Gastroenteritis (also known as gastro, gastric flu, and stomach flu, although unrelated to influenza) is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving both the stomach and the small intestine (see also gastritis and enteritis) and resulting in acute diarrhea. The inflammation is caused most often by infection with certain viruses, and less often by bacteria or their toxins, parasites, or adverse reaction to something in the diet or medication.  Chronic enteritis can be due to Crohn's disease, giardiasis, tuberculosis, celiac disease, or rarely due to Whipple's disease.

3-b. Pain: Headache, Dsymenorrhea, Abdominal pain/distention
- Headache at the "Tai Yang" point:  Men Jin (Door Metal) is good for many types of pain, but it is especially good for headaches located at Tai Yang  (in the depression about 1 cun posterior to the midpoint between the lateral end of the eyebrow and the outer canthus of the eye).
- Dysmenorrhea:  This point also works well for dysmenorrhea by harmonizing Wood and Earth.
- Abdominal pain or abdominal distention:   In combination with Ling Gu (Capital Bone; lower LI4), which is located distal to the junction of two metacarpal bones on the Hand-Yangming channel, Men Jin (Door Metal) (on the Foot-Yangming channel) is also good for abdominal pain.

3-c. Nasal Blockage: This point's name contains the character for Metal, meaning that it is also related to the Lung and to Qi, as well as the Large Intestine.  In addition, the Stomach channel on the face intersects with the point LI20.  Therefore, Men Jin (Door Metal) can be used for nasal blockage.

3-d. Rectal Prolapse: The combination of ST43 (Door Metal) and ST44 can treat rectal prolapse as well.