ST 2 — Sì Bái (四白) — Four Whites
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1. Overview
ST 2 — Sì Bái (四白) — is an acupuncture point on the Stomach meridian. Its English name, Four Whites, reflects the point’s classical description of brightening the four quadrants of vision. It is one of the key facial points in acupuncture for eye conditions, sinus problems and facial paralysis.
I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a member of the British Acupuncture Council with over 25 years of clinical experience. I use ST 2 as part of individually tailored acupuncture prescriptions at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire.
2. Location
1 cun below the pupil when the eyes look straight ahead, in the depression of the infraorbital foramen.
3. Actions
- Dispels Wind and clears Heat from the face
- Brightens the eyes
- Activates the meridian and relieves pain
4. Indications
- Red, painful, itchy eyes and conjunctivitis
- Blurred vision and myopia
- Twitching of the eyelid and dark eye circles
- Sinusitis and sinus congestion
- Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy) and trigeminal neuralgia
- Nasal polyps and chronic rhinitis
5. Needling
Perpendicular insertion 0.2–0.3 cun, or oblique insertion towards the lateral side 0.3–0.5 cun. Caution: do not penetrate the infraorbital foramen.
6. Clinical notes
ST 2 is a workhorse point for any chronic facial or peri-orbital complaint. It is often paired with GB 1 or BL 1 for eye conditions, with LI 20 and Yin Tang for sinusitis, and with ST 4 and ST 6 for facial paralysis.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I use ST 2 in bespoke acupuncture prescriptions for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, dry eye, facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia. Every treatment is individually tailored following a full TCM assessment. Book a consultation in Wokingham, Berkshire.
