The quiet gatekeeper of the upper abdomen. Huaroumen (ST-24) calms the stomach, clears Phlegm from the mind and opens the orifices — a point where digestion and mental peace meet at the same threshold.
Name & story
The name 滑肉门 Huaroumen means "Slippery Flesh Gate" — and the image is a beautiful one. "Slippery flesh" refers to the smooth, glistening tissue of the tongue and the intestines, both of which share a quality of moist, gliding movement. This point is classically said to treat disorders of both the tongue and the intestines — as if the Gate stands between them, keeping the passage smooth and clear. When the tongue thrusts uncontrollably and the belly is in turmoil, this Gate is where you knock.
Point family & character
ST-24 belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST) and sits on the upper abdomen, one Cun above the navel and two Cun out from the midline, level with Shuifen REN-9. It is recorded in the Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhēn Jiǔ Jiǎ Yǐ Jīng), one of the oldest and most authoritative classical texts, which gives it a long history of clinical use.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach Meridian (ST) belongs to the Earth element — the Middle Burner, the body's centre of transformation. ST-24 sits close to that pivotal region of the abdomen where the pure is separated from the impure, where food begins its journey of transformation. When that process is disrupted — by Phlegm, by rebellious Qi, by accumulated Heat — both the belly and the mind suffer together. The old sources put it simply: "Sour Stomach = Sour Mind." By clearing Phlegm and harmonising the stomach, ST-24 restores order at the centre, and from that centre the mind can find its calm again.
Location
On the upper abdomen, 1 Cun directly above the navel and 2 Cun out from the midline — level with Shuifen REN-9. The 2 Cun line sits halfway between the midline and the edge of the rectus abdominis muscle.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the upper abdomen, over the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly. Local soreness may spread downward toward the lower abdomen.
Safe depth
1.0–1.5 Cun. Some older sources note 0.7–1.0 Cun. Caution: avoid penetrating the peritoneal cavity — deep needling can reach the greater omentum or small intestine.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxibustion is applicable: 3–5 cones of cone moxa, or a moxa stick held over the point for 5–10 minutes. Warming is appropriate when there is Cold in the stomach or digestive weakness.
Functions
Clears Phlegm and opens the orifices; Calms fright and tranquillises the Shen; Regulates Qi and harmonises the Stomach; Directs rebellious Qi downward and arrests vomiting; Sedates the mind and calms the spirit; Regulates the gastrointestinal system.
Indications
Stomach and digestive complaints: vomiting, stomachache, abdominal distension, poor appetite, borborygmus (rumbling in the abdomen), ascites, vomiting of blood. Both chronic and acute gastritis. Mental and emotional disorders: psychosis, mania-depression, schizophrenia, uncontrolled tongue thrusting. The point is classically combined with nearby Taiyi ST-23 for mania and tongue-thrusting disorders.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
ST-24 has a quiet but important role in the mental landscape. When Phlegm clouds the orifices — one of the classical causes of severe mental disturbance — the mind loses its clarity and the Shen is scattered. Mania, agitation, incoherent speech, even the strange symptom of uncontrolled tongue thrusting all point to this pattern. The classical texts pair ST-24 with ST-23 (Taiyi) specifically for "mania-depression with tongue thrusting", and the combination appears in both the Systematic Classic and the Thousand Ducat Formulas. By clearing Phlegm and opening the orifices, ST-24 helps the Shen find its way back home.
Point combinations
With Taiyi ST-23 — the classical pair for mania-depression with tongue thrusting (Systematic Classic). With Taiyi ST-23 and Feiyang BL-58 — for madness and mania disorder with tongue thrusting (Thousand Ducat Formulas). With Zhubin KID-9 (via ST-23) — for tongue thrusting (Supplementing Life).
Clinical spotlight
What makes ST-24 distinctive is the rare bridge it builds between the gut and the mind. Most stomach points on the Stomach Meridian (ST) focus on digestion; ST-24 does that too, but its classical reputation rests equally on its ability to clear Phlegm from the orifices and calm severe mental disturbance. The classical image is striking: "Slippery Flesh Gate" — the smooth tongue that speaks strange words, the churning intestines, and the disturbed Shen, all meeting at this single Gate. It is a reminder that in Chinese medicine, the Earth element is not only about eating — it is about processing experience, both physical and mental.
The golden tip
For gentle self-care, the area around ST-24 can be massaged softly with the fingertips — one Cun above the navel, two finger-widths out from the centre, on both sides. Slow, circular pressure may help ease stomach discomfort or a sense of nervous agitation in the belly. However, for the deeper mental and emotional indications associated with this point, professional acupuncture treatment is always recommended.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.