ST6 (Jiache / Jaw Chariot) Acupuncture Point Guide
Practitioner Guide from The Acupuncture Supply Co.
Professional acupuncture supplies and clinical reference material for qualified practitioners.
ST6 Jiache is identified through the masseter muscle and the angle of the jaw. It is often discussed alongside other facial points, but its muscular landmark makes it distinct from points near the jaw joint. Careful assessment is particularly useful when jaw symptoms might have a dental, joint or muscular cause.
Practitioner only. This is an educational reference, not a self-needling guide.
ST6 Jiache quick reference
| Point name | ST6 — Jiache (Jaw Chariot) |
|---|---|
| Channel | Stomach channel of Foot Yangming |
| Classification | Local Stomach-channel point of the jaw |
| Region | Masseter region above the mandibular angle |
| Laterality | Bilateral |
| Core landmark | Masseter prominence, approximately one middle-finger breadth forward and upward from the mandibular angle. |
Location of ST6 Jiache
Locate the lower angle of the mandible. Ask the patient to bring the teeth together briefly and gently so the masseter can be identified, then allow the jaw to relax. ST6 corresponds to the prominent part of that muscle approximately one middle-finger breadth anterior and superior to the angle. Confirm the anatomy rather than treating a fixed distance as exact.
Landmark checks
- Identify the jaw angle before marking the masseter region.
- Use only comfortable muscle activation; do not ask a painful jaw to clench hard.
- Distinguish ST6 from ST7, which lies higher near the temporomandibular joint.
Traditional functions of ST6
- Traditionally benefits the jaw and teeth.
- Used to ease channel obstruction in facial presentations.
- Associated with dispersing Wind in traditional facial-point discussions.
These terms belong to traditional acupuncture theory. They should be distinguished from evidence about clinical outcomes.
Traditional clinical applications
Traditional use includes jaw tightness, restricted opening, cheek discomfort and dental symptoms. These descriptions should not blur the distinction between muscular pain, joint dysfunction and dental disease. ST6 is not a substitute for dental assessment, treatment of an abscess or investigation of a newly restricted jaw.
Common point combinations
- ST6 + ST7: a local jaw-region pairing selected after separate assessment of the muscle and joint.
- ST6 + LI4: a traditional local-and-distal facial pairing within an individualised plan.
These are traditional treatment-planning examples, not fixed prescriptions. Assess each point separately and select a combination only when it fits the full presentation and your training.
Anatomy and practitioner notes
The masseter overlies the mandibular ramus. Nearby facial nerve branches, vessels and parotid structures make orientation important. Pain on biting, tooth sensitivity and joint clicking provide different information and should be recorded separately. Check for recent dental work, facial surgery, trauma and altered sensation.
Needling and essential safety
Use an approach consistent with accredited facial anatomy training and the patient's build. Avoid inflamed skin and unfamiliar swelling. Fever, spreading facial swelling or increasing difficulty opening the mouth warrants urgent dental or medical assessment. Difficulty swallowing or breathing is an emergency. Do not present point treatment as care for an untreated dental infection.
Technique must follow individual anatomy and accredited training. Use sterile, single-use needles and suitable infection-control measures. Review health history, medicines, skin condition and consent before treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Should ST6 sit on the lower edge of the jaw?
Its muscular landmark is forward and above the mandibular angle. A mark on the neck below the jaw does not represent that location.
Does tenderness at ST6 diagnose a jaw disorder?
No. Tenderness is one finding and must be interpreted alongside a dental, joint and muscular assessment.
Is this a guide to self-needling?
No. Needling requires appropriate professional training, anatomical assessment and a safe clinical setting.
Continue exploring Project Lotus
Read the LI4 guide and GB20 guide, or browse all Acupuncture Point Guides.
For clinic supplies, browse our professional acupuncture needles and the wider Practitioner Guides.
Professional reference: Written for qualified acupuncture practitioners. Traditional functions and pairing examples describe a clinical tradition; they are not claims of proven efficacy for an individual point. The guide does not replace accredited training, diagnosis, informed consent or a patient-specific treatment plan. Surface illustrations cannot determine safe needle depth or direction.
References and further reading: eLotus CORE: Jiache (ST6); WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations, 2008; revised reprint 2009; NCCIH: Acupuncture — Effectiveness and Safety; NHS: Complementary therapies and safety. Accessed 18 September 2026.
