Raise your hand if your dinner came out of the freezer or if you pulled your summer salad straight from the fridge. Maybe you enjoyed a refreshing ice-cold beer alongside a juicy steak. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners would shake their heads at these choices—not because of the calories, but because uncooked, cold, and greasy foods can clog the body with dampness and phlegm.
While we don’t typically think of food as a source of dampness and phlegm in conventional medicine, it is considered a significant issue in TCM. Today’s acupoint, Slippery Flesh Gate (Hua Rou Men, ST24), located on your abdomen, is a practical tool in the fight against internal stagnation, helping your body adapt and recover from the pitfalls of modern eating.
Old Texts, Modern Relevance
Hua Rou Men was first mentioned in the “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing” (“The A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion”), one of the earliest surviving texts on acupuncture. This point stands out for its deep association with dampness and phlegm—two pathological concepts central to TCM. While “dampness” can result from humid environments or sedentary lifestyles, “phlegm” is considered a heavier consequence of internal imbalance.
In TCM, phlegm isn’t just the stuff you cough up during a cold. It’s something akin to a heavy, misty energy that affects physical and mental health, leading to a range of symptoms from indigestion to irritability and clouded thinking. Hua Rou Men lies on the Stomach meridian but works in concert with the liver, helping to transform and expel these excesses.
What Hua Rou Men Can Do
Hua Rou Men has a strong track record in helping the body shed what it doesn’t need. That includes dampness-induced weight gain that won’t budge, bloating, and digestive irregularities. It is also beneficial for alleviating gastric pain and vomiting. Its reach also extends beyond the gut. When phlegm clouds the mind and emotions—causing anxiety, irritability, scattered thoughts, or even what the ancient practitioners called “mania”—this point steps in to clear the mental clutter.
Modern Science Gives Hua Rou Its Due
Recent clinical studies help explain how this ancient point delivers results. In one trial, women with functional constipation were treated either with oral medication or with acupoint embedding at abdominal points—including Hua Rou Men. The embedding group saw greater improvements in bowel regularity, stool quality, ease of elimination, and overall quality of life. Hua Rou Men played a clear role in supporting intestinal motility and waste elimination.
Another study looked at women with polycystic ovary syndrome and abdominal obesity who underwent a specialized acupuncture technique. Hua Rou Men was targeted with reducing stimulation and electrical current. After treatment, participants showed lowered body mass index, smaller ovarian volume, and improved hormone levels—including reduced testosterone and insulin. The findings demonstrate Hua Rou Men’s potential to regulate metabolic function.
How to Find and Activate Hua Rou Men
To locate Hua Rou Men, move one thumb knuckle above your belly button. From that point, move two thumb knuckles to the left and two to the right—this point is bilateral, so you’ll find one on each side. Once you’re in the area, gently press around and notice if any spot feels particularly sore or tender. That’s your cue—your body is signaling the presence of the acupoint.
Ways to Activate Hua Rou Men
- Firm pressure: Press firmly for three to five seconds, then relax for three seconds. Repeat for one to three minutes on each side.
- Circular massage: Massage in small circles with your index finger or thumb for one to three minutes on each side.
- Herbal patch: Apply an herbal patch overnight for longer activation.
- Advanced methods: Acupuncture, cupping, or moxibustion (a gentle heat therapy using dried mugwort) by a trained professional can deepen the therapeutic effects.
Precautions
Avoid stimulating this point if you’re actively recovering from an injury near your abdomen. If using a herbal patch, opt for products free from harsh artificial chemicals, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Your Self-Care Ally in a Fast-Moving World
Today’s fast-paced world makes it challenging to maintain a sense of balance. Food is fast, jobs are sedentary, and emotions often get pushed aside. That’s why acupoints like Hua Rou Men matter. It gives your body the support it needs to clear out what doesn’t belong—physically and mentally. So next time you indulge in a greasy meal or feel like your thoughts are tangled in fog, don’t beat yourself up. Use Hua Rou Men to help you reset.
TCM expert Shihhsiang Hung reviewed this article for accuracy and clarity.
Originally published in Epoch Times on 16 July 2025
