The knee point of the Stomach channel. Dubi (ST-35) sits right at the knee joint, in the little hollow beside the kneecap, and is the first stop for almost any knee complaint — pain, swelling, stiffness, or difficulty bending and straightening.
Contraindications
Dubi (ST-35) is a safe local point when needled with the knee properly flexed and with clean technique. No special contraindications are noted in the sources.
Name & story
The name 犊鼻 Dubi means "Calf's Nose". When the knee is bent, two small depressions appear just below the kneecap, one on each side of the patellar ligament — and together they look remarkably like the two nostrils of a young calf's nose. It is one of those wonderfully playful names in Chinese medicine where the image alone tells you exactly where to find the point. ST-35 itself sits in the lateral hollow, the outer nostril, so to speak, and it is also known as "lateral Xiyan" — the lateral Eye of the Knee.
Point family & character
Dubi (ST-35) belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST). It is a local point of the knee, paired with the extra point medial Xiyan (MN-LE-16), which lies in the corresponding hollow on the inner side of the patellar ligament. Together, the two are often called "the Eyes of the Knee" (Xiyan). ST-35 is also the landmark from which ST-36 (Zusanli) is measured — three Cun straight below it.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach Meridian (ST) belongs to the Earth element and its Yang channel runs down the entire front of the body and leg, passing right through the knee. Dubi sits exactly where the channel crosses the joint, making it a natural gathering point for Qi and Blood (Xue) in that area. When Wind, Cold, or Dampness invades the knee — or when Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis accumulate in the joint — this hollow becomes the key local doorway through which the channel can be unblocked and the joint restored.
Location
Find it easily by bending the knee: two small hollows appear just below the kneecap, one on each side of the central tendon (patellar ligament). ST-35 is the outer hollow — lateral to the patellar ligament, immediately below the patella. The inner hollow is the extra point medial Xiyan (MN-LE-16). It is also the reference point for ST-36, which lies 3 Cun directly below it.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the depression lateral to the patellar ligament, at the level of the lower border of the patella, with the knee in a flexed position.
Needling
With the knee flexed, the needle is inserted perpendicularly into the hollow, directed slightly toward the center of the joint. Both Xiyan points (ST-35 and medial Xiyan) are often needled together, directing the needles inward toward each other through the joint space.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa is commonly used on this point to warm the knee joint and dispel Cold and Dampness. Local warming — whether with a moxa stick or a warm pack — suits it especially in chronic, cold, or damp-type knee conditions. Cupping or Tui Na around the knee may complement needling in Painful Obstruction Syndrome.
Functions
Dispels Wind, Cold and Dampness from the knee joint; Unblocks the channel and relieves pain and swelling of the knee; Resolves Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis in the joint; Benefits the local sinews and ligaments.
Indications
Pain, swelling and stiffness of the knee; difficulty flexing and extending the knee; inability to walk or bear weight on the leg; Painful Obstruction Syndrome (Bi syndrome) of the knee due to Wind, Cold or Dampness; numbness and weakness of the lower limb.
Point combinations
With medial Xiyan (MN-LE-16) — the classic "Eyes of the Knee" pairing, needled together toward each other through the joint, for almost any knee pain or swelling. With ST-34 (Liangqiu), SP-9 (Yinlingquan), and GB-34 (Yanglingquan) for knee stiffness, soreness and pain from Painful Obstruction Syndrome. With ST-34 (Liangqiu), LIV-8 (Ququan) and GB-33 (Xiyangguan) for contracted sinews with difficulty flexing and extending the knee.
Clinical spotlight
Dubi (ST-35) is the primary local point for the knee in classical and modern acupuncture practice. Its most distinctive feature is its pairing with medial Xiyan to form the "Eyes of the Knee" — needling both hollows simultaneously, angling the needles toward each other, is a classic and effective technique for knee joint disorders. The image in the source from Maciocia describes it clearly: the point "is frequently used in the treatment of Painful Obstruction Syndrome of the knee to expel exterior Dampness, Wind and Cold from the knee joint." Its location directly over the joint space gives it immediate access to the structures most affected by arthritis, injury, or channel obstruction.
The golden tip
To find ST-35 at home, sit with the knee bent at a right angle. Feel for the two small depressions just below the kneecap, on either side of the central tendon — the outer hollow is Dubi (ST-35). Firm, circular massage on both hollows together for 1–2 minutes can ease stiffness and mild knee discomfort. Gentle warmth — a warm pack or carefully held moxa stick — is especially soothing for knees that feel worse in cold or damp weather.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.