Welcoming a newborn is joyful, but the costs can add up fast. While you can thrift the crib and pass down baby clothes, nutrition is non-negotiable. While breastfeeding is proven to strengthen babies’ immune systems and protect mothers from ovarian and breast cancers, only 13 percent of babies in the United States are exclusively breastfed.
For many, the choice not to breastfeed is due to a lack of milk supply, leading to a costly formula bill of up to $2,000 per year. If you’re a breastfeeding mother or supporting one, an acupoint may help: Celestial Stream (Tian Xi, SP18), located right on the side of the chest. It can also help those with chest tension.
Why Tian Xi Stands Out in TCM
First documented in the “Ling Shu” (“Spiritual Pivot”), a foundational text in Chinese medicine, Tian Xi belongs to the Spleen meridian (energy pathway). You might associate the spleen with digestion, and you’d be right—but in TCM, the spleen’s job of nutrient transformation and transportation extends its influence far beyond the gut.
Thanks to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principle of treating the area where the meridian flows, Tian Xi is highly relevant for conditions of the upper chest. That includes tightness, fullness, and pain that have nothing to do with babies—and everything to do with stagnant energy. For breastfeeding mothers, stagnation can lead to low milk production or inflammation of the breast tissue (mastitis). In short, this lesser-known point is anything but narrow in its use.
What Tian Xi Can Help With
Tian Xi clears out what’s stuck—whether it’s energy or fluids—effectively relieving discomfort. For those experiencing shortness of breath or a lingering cough, stimulating this acupoint can help the body expel built-up stagnation. For breastfeeding women, it can stimulate milk flow, reduce breast inflammation, and ease discomfort. Beyond theory—practitioners regularly include it in lactation support protocols. It’s also helpful for general chest discomfort, whether due to tension, gas buildup, or emotional stress lodged physically in the upper body.
Where Research Is Taking Us
Emerging research supports the practical effects of Tian Xi across different fields. A clinical review examined the impact of tuina, a traditional Chinese massage therapy, on lactation and found that breast tuina—including stimulation of Tian Xi—promoted earlier and more abundant milk production.
Modern studies also extend the relevance of this point to cancer care. In a clinical trial on gastric cancer patients recovering from chemotherapy, Tian Xi was one of the acupuncture points used in the treatment group. Patients receiving acupuncture and moxibustion (a gentle heat therapy with dried mugwort) had significantly better survival outcomes than those who received sham treatments. Immune function improved and inflammation markers dropped, suggesting that Tian Xi helps regulate the immune system and reduce systemic inflammation.
How to Locate and Activate Tian Xi
Tian Xi lies in the fourth intercostal space—the gap between your fourth and fifth ribs. The nipple usually sits right on the fourth space, so measure two to three finger-widths to the side of each nipple. Feel around the rib gap until you detect a sore or tender area—those sensations are telltale signs of an active acupoint. Remember: Tian Xi is bilateral, so there’s one on each side.
How to Activate Tian Xi
You don’t need fancy equipment to work with Tian Xi:
- Finger Pressure: Press firmly for three to five seconds, then relax for three seconds. Repeat for one to three minutes per side.
- Circular Massage: Use your index finger or thumb in a gentle, circular motion for one to three minutes per side.
- Herbal Patch: Apply overnight for convenience, but make sure to use ones with gentle ingredients—especially if your skin is sensitive.
- Professional Methods: Acupuncture, cupping, or moxibustion are options, but only with a trained TCM professional due to the acupoints’ proximity to vital organs.
Precautions
Avoid stimulating this point if you have injuries in the chest area. When using herbal patches, read the ingredient list carefully to avoid harsh chemicals, especially if you are caring for a nursing mother.
One More Tool for New Families—and Everyone Else
Whether you’re looking to help a new mother avoid the financial and physical toll of formula or simply relieve some tightness in your chest, Tian Xi offers a safe, natural, and proven starting point. Small actions—like a few minutes of targeted massage—can ripple into meaningful long-term support. If someone you love has just had a baby, or you’re simply ready to expand your toolbox of natural remedies, consider this gentle yet powerful acupoint as a meaningful act of care.
TCM expert Shihhsiang Hung reviewed this article for accuracy and clarity.
Originally published in Epoch Times on 19 June 2025
