The chest window of the Stomach channel. Yingchuang (ST-16) opens the chest, settles the breath and eases pain in the breast — a quiet but reliable point for any congestion gathering in the chest.
Name & story
The name 膺窗 Yingchuang means "Breast Window" or "Chest Window": 膺 (yīng) refers to the chest or breast, and 窗 (chuāng) means a window — an opening that lets air and light through. The image is beautiful and practical at once: when the chest feels closed, heavy and congested — as if the windows have been shut tight — this point is said to open them again, letting rebellious Qi descend and the breath flow freely once more.
Point family & character
ST-16 belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST) and sits on the chest portion of the channel, which runs down through the breast region. Its neighbours on the channel — Kufang ST-14, Wuyi ST-15, and Yingchuang ST-16 — share the common action of descending rebellious Qi and unbinding the chest.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach Meridian (ST) is the great Yang channel of the Earth element, and its pathway sweeps down across the entire front of the body — including the chest and breast. When Qi rebels upward along this channel instead of descending smoothly, the chest fills and tightens, breathing becomes laboured, and cough or breast pain may follow. ST-16 sits right at the place where this upward rebellion tends to gather, and its job is simply to restore the natural downward movement — to open the window and let the Qi flow the right way again.
Location
Find the third intercostal space on the chest (note: in males the nipple lies in the fourth intercostal space, so ST-16 is one space above it). Measure 4 Cun out from the midline — this places it on the mammillary line. It sits directly below Wuyi ST-15 (second intercostal space) and above Ruzhong ST-17 (fourth intercostal space, at the nipple).
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the third intercostal space, on the mammillary line, 4 Cun lateral to the midline. It sits over the intercostal muscles in this space, in the region of the breast.
Needling
Insert the needle transverse-obliquely, directing it laterally or medially along the intercostal space, or transversely along the channel superiorly or inferiorly. Deep or perpendicular insertion must be avoided because of the underlying lung.
Safe depth
0.5 to 0.8 Cun, along the intercostal space.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle Moxa may be applied with care in Cold patterns where the chest is congested and the cough is accompanied by Cold signs. Acupressure along the intercostal space can help ease chest tightness between sessions.
Functions
Descends rebellious Qi and unbinds the chest; relieves cough and dyspnoea; eases distention and fullness of the chest and lateral costal region.
Indications
Distention and fullness of the chest and lateral costal region; cough; coughing of pus and blood; dyspnoea and difficult breathing. Pain, swelling or congestion in the breast region.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
The chest in Chinese medicine is the residence of the Heart and the Shen. When Qi rebels upward and the chest becomes bound and full, the mind rarely stays at ease — tightness in the chest so often walks alongside anxiety and a sense of oppression. By unbinding the chest and restoring the smooth downward flow of Qi, ST-16 gently removes the physical weight that sits on the spirit, allowing the breath — and with it, the mind — to open and settle again.
Point combinations
With Kufang ST-14 and Wuyi ST-15, and Gaohuangshu BL-43 — for cough, following the classical combination recorded in the Supplementing Life text.
Clinical spotlight
ST-16 is one of a cluster of chest points on the Stomach Meridian (ST) — ST-14, ST-15 and ST-16 — that all share the action of descending rebellious Qi and unbinding the chest. What sets ST-16 apart is its precise location in the third intercostal space at the mammillary line, placing it directly over the breast tissue. This makes it particularly relevant in conditions affecting the breast alongside chest and respiratory symptoms. The classical combination with Gaohuangshu BL-43 for cough is a reminder of how chest points on the front of the body are often paired with back-Shu points on the posterior for deeper effect.
The golden tip
If the chest feels tight or heavy, gentle self-massage along the third intercostal space — following the line outward from the breastbone toward the side of the chest — can help ease the sensation of constriction. Use the fingertips with light to moderate pressure. Always seek professional advice for persistent chest or breast symptoms.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.