The great hollow of the cheek. Juliao (ST-3) is the face point that clears Wind, relieves pain and brightens the eyes — a local master for anything affecting the middle of the face: the teeth, the nose, the cheek and the eyelids.
Contraindications
ST-3 is a facial point needled in a sensitive area near the infraorbital foramen. Keep to a safe, shallow depth and avoid deep insertion to protect the underlying structures.
Name & story
The name 巨髎 Juliao means "Great Crevice" or "Large Bone-Hole". 巨 (jù) means great or large, and 髎 (liáo) refers to a bony crevice or hollow — the kind of natural depression in the skeleton where a needle finds its home with ease. The point does indeed sit in a noticeable hollow in the cheek, right in the infraorbital region, as though the face itself offers a small resting place there. The name is both an address and a description.
Point family & character
ST-3 belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST). It is a crossing point shared with the Yang Motility Vessel (Yangqiao Mai), which gives it an added reach into the eye and the lateral side of the body.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach Meridian (ST) belongs to the Earth element and its Yang channel runs all the way from the face down to the toes. The face is where the channel begins its long journey, and ST-3 sits near the very top of that path — close to the eyes, beside the nose, over the cheek. This upper position makes it a natural gateway for clearing Wind and Heat from the face, and for moving Qi and Blood (Xue) through the local tissues. When Wind or Cold invade the face, or when Heat rises and inflames the cheek and gums, ST-3 is the Earth channel's answer at the top.
Location
Find it on the face, directly below the pupil — draw a vertical line down from the centre of the eye. Where that line meets the level of the lower edge of the nostril wing, in the slight hollow of the cheek, is ST-3. It sits just lateral to the nasolabial groove.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies over the infraorbital region of the cheek, on or near the levator labii superioris muscle, roughly at the level of the lower border of the ala nasi (the nostril wing) and directly below the pupil.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly, or can be directed obliquely toward neighboring facial points for joining techniques.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle acupressure or massage on ST-3 is a pleasant self-care option for cheek tension, sinus discomfort or toothache. Light warming or warmth to the area may help in cases of Cold or Wind invasion affecting the face.
Functions
Expels Wind and clears Heat from the face. Relieves pain in the cheek, teeth, jaw and nose. Brightens the eyes and addresses local eye conditions. Moves Qi and Blood (Xue) in the facial tissues. Benefits the nose.
Indications
Toothache (especially upper teeth), swollen gums. Pain and swelling of the cheek. Nasal congestion, nosebleed (epistaxis), nasal polyps. Eyelid twitching, drooping of the eyelid (ptosis), redness of the eye. Facial nerve palsy and facial paralysis. Trigeminal neuralgia. Facial swelling.
Point combinations
Paired with ST-2 (Sibai) and ST-6 (Jiache) for facial nerve palsy and facial pain — the three Stomach Meridian (ST) face points work well together along the channel's course. Combined with ST-7 (Xiaguan) and ST-6 (Jiache) for toothache and jaw conditions. Used alongside local points for nasal disorders and eyelid problems.
Clinical spotlight
ST-3 is a workhorse of facial acupuncture. Its position at the crossroads of the Stomach Meridian (ST) and the Yang Motility Vessel (Yangqiao Mai) gives it influence over a wide arc of the face — from the eye above to the upper teeth below, from the nose medially to the cheek laterally. In facial paralysis protocols it is almost always included, alongside its neighbours ST-2 and ST-6, to restore movement and sensation to the middle of the face. Its crossing with the Yangqiao Mai also makes it relevant for eyelid conditions, since that vessel governs the opening and closing of the eye.
The golden tip
For sinus congestion, cheek tension or toothache discomfort, you can find ST-3 by looking straight ahead in a mirror and tracing a line straight down from your pupil to the level of your nostril. Press gently but firmly on the hollow there for one to two minutes. It can bring noticeable relief to facial pressure and mild toothache, and is a safe point for regular self-massage.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.