The quiet gatekeeper of the upper abdomen. Burong (ST-19) holds back what should not overflow — rebellious Qi, accumulating food, rising pain — and restores the settled, downward flow the Stomach depends on.
Name & story
The name 不容 Burong means "Does Not Tolerate" or "Will Not Contain" — a vivid image of a stomach that has simply had enough. Too much food, too much Qi pressing upward, too much accumulation in the upper belly: the point's name captures exactly what it treats. It is as though the body is saying, through this point, "no more" — and needling it helps restore the Stomach's proper order, releasing what is stuck and settling what has risen.
Point family & character
ST-19 belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST) and sits in the upper abdomen, close to where the channel runs along the chest and belly. It is a local point for the epigastric region and works in close relationship with the Liver Meridian (LR) points of the same zone.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach is the Yang organ of the Earth element, and its essential movement is downward — receiving food and sending it on. When that downward motion fails, Qi rebels upward, food stagnates, and the whole Middle Burner becomes congested. ST-19, positioned right at the top of the stomach's territory, addresses this upward rebellion directly. Earth needs to stay grounded and centred; Burong is the point that insists on that.
Location
ST-19 is found on the upper abdomen, 6 Cun above the navel and 2 Cun lateral to the midline (the Ren channel). It sits just below the costal margin, level with Ren-14 (Juque).
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the abdomen, in the area overlying the upper stomach and the edge of the liver. The rectus abdominis muscle runs beneath the skin here.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly or slightly obliquely. Care is taken not to needle too deeply given the proximity of the liver and stomach beneath the abdominal wall.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle moxibustion can be used here to warm the Stomach and dispel Cold accumulation. Abdominal Tui Na and massage along the Stomach Meridian (ST) complement needling well, helping to move stagnant Qi in the epigastric region.
Functions
Redirects rebellious Stomach Qi downward; Relieves food accumulation and distension; Harmonises the Stomach and Liver; Alleviates pain in the epigastrium; Stops nausea and vomiting; Resolves Qi Stagnation in the upper abdomen.
Indications
Upper abdominal and epigastric pain, fullness and distension in the stomach region, nausea and vomiting, acid regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, poor appetite, food accumulation that does not move. Pain and stiffness in the chest and hypochondriac region. Cough and shortness of breath related to Stomach Qi rebelling upward.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
When the Stomach is overloaded — full, congested, unable to settle — the whole body becomes restless. In Chinese medicine, a turbid, rebellious Middle Burner disturbs the Shen: sleep becomes light and troubled, the mind feels crowded and uncomfortable, much like the stomach itself. By clearing the congestion and restoring downward flow, ST-19 quietly helps the mind find room to breathe again. It is not a primary spirit point, but a calm, ordered belly is the foundation of a calm, ordered mind.
Point combinations
With Ren-12 (Zhongwan) — the front Mu point of the Stomach — to harmonise the Middle Burner and settle rebellious Qi. With LR-14 (Qimen) — the nearby Liver Mu point — to relieve Liver Qi Stagnation invading the Stomach, nausea and hypochondriac pain. With ST-36 (Zusanli) — to strengthen the Stomach's downward function and relieve epigastric pain. With ST-25 (Tianshu) — for broader digestive regulation when both the upper and lower abdomen are involved.
Clinical spotlight
ST-19 is a focused local point for the upper stomach — not a grand tonic like ST-36, but precisely effective for what it does. Its greatest clinical value lies in conditions of Stomach Qi rebellion: nausea, vomiting, acid reflux and the sensation of food sitting immovably in the upper belly. Its location just inside the costal margin, close to both the Liver and Stomach anatomically, also makes it useful when Liver Qi Stagnation is overflowing into the Stomach — the classic pattern of stress and irritability leading to digestive upset.
The golden tip
If you feel a heavy, blocked sensation in the upper stomach — especially after eating too much or under emotional stress — you can gently press or massage the area 6 Cun above the navel, 2 finger-widths out from the midline on either side. Light circular pressure for a minute or two can help ease the feeling of fullness and settle an unsettled stomach. Warmth — a warm hand or a gentle heat pack over the upper belly — is soothing when the discomfort feels Cold or heavy.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.