The stomach meridian is the yang partner of the yin spleen meridian. It is responsible for providing the entire body with energy from the digestion of food and fluids. In addition to digesting foods and liquids and moving them to the small intestine for extraction and assimilation, the stomach also has an important energetic job in conjunction with the stomach meridian: It extracts energy from foods and fluids, and coordinates with the spleen to transport that energy to the lungs. There it combines with qi (vital energy) from the air we breathe.
The stomach has a profound influence on our mental state. It is thought that imbalanced energy in the stomach meridian can agitate the mind, causing symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, and hyperactivity.
The stomach meridian is one of the longest meridians, with 45 points. Starting beside the nose, near LI-20, the stomach channel meets the bladder channel at point BL-1 on the forehead. From ST-1, just below the eye, it passes into the upper gums and around the mouth to link with the governing and conception vessels. Next, via the lower gums, it ascends in front of the ear to the forehead. From the jaw, it descends alongside the throat to the collarbone region, where an internal branch descends to meet the stomach and spleen.
The superficial path continues down over the abdomen to the pubic area, where a second internal branch from the stomach rejoins it. The channel continues down the anterior thigh, passing just to the outside of the kneecap. At ST-36, below the knee, the channel divides again. The surface branch runs down the leg beside the shinbone, ending on the outside of the second toe. The deeper branch descends to the middle toe. From the top of the foot, a connection runs to the spleen channel.
Further Reading:
Learn more about the Stomach Meridian and How to Balance It