Zu San Li (ST36) is commonly used for gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, and stress and fatigue. Zu San Li (ST36) is located four finger widths down from the bottom of your knee cap, along the outer boundary of your shin bone. If you are in the right place, a muscle should pop out as you move your foot up and down. To use this acupressure point, (1) locate the point then (2) apply downward pressure on the muscle, stimulating the area for 4-5 seconds.

The point is located on the lateral side of the leg below the knee (patella).

The point is located about four-finger space below the patella in the depression on the lateral side of the bone (tibia).

Apply pressure and massage for 4-5 seconds.

In traditional Chinese literature and practice, this point is frequently stimulated for health promotion and longevity.

There are many extensive studies conducted with Zu San Li (ST36) in the scientific literature. In neuroimaging studies, stimulation of Zu San Li (ST36) has been shown to affect the limbic and paralimbic systems in the brain[2] which may affect the body’s response to stress [3]. The Journal of Autonomic Neuroscience also published an article that showed that both Nei Guan (P6) and Zu San Li (ST 36) used together have an effect on gastrointestinal motility[1].