Location
In the upper aspect of the shoulder in the depression the between acromial extremity of the clavicle and scapular spine.
Cautions
Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax.
Indications
Conditions for which LI16 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
Benefit Regulate BloodBenefit Regulate QiBenefit ShouldersBenefit ShouldersDissipate Phlegm NodulesDissipate Phlegm NodulesEpilepsyFrightGoiterArm StiffnessUnable to Raise ArmImmobility ArmImmobility Arm RaisingPainBack PainBack PainShoulder PainShoulder PainRegulate BloodRegulate QiScrofulaBlood Chest StagnationBlood Chest StagnationBlood Shoulder StagnationBlood Shoulder StagnationChannel StagnationChannel StagnationVomiting Blood ExcessiveVomiting Blood Excessive
Protocols using LI16
- Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, TB14, GB21 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1)
- Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, GB21 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1)
- Migraine Without Aura – LI16, ST08, BL10, GB08, GB20, GB21, LV03, GV20 (Efficacy Study of Acupuncture in the Prevention of Migraine Without Aura. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02765581)
- Shoulder Pain – LI11, LI15, LI16, SI03, SI09, SI10, SI11, TB14, GB21 (https://doi.org/10.1155/prm/1766393)
- Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Rotator Cuff Pain, Shoulder Problems – LI15, LI16, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, TB14 (https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000046638)
- Shoulder Pain, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, TB14, GB21 (https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13090608)
- Chronic Pain, Neck Chronic Pain, Disability Cervical – LI16, SI14, SI15, BL11, TB15 (https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.14335)
- Neck Pain, Neck Acute Pain – LI16, SI14, SI15, BL10, TB15, GB20, GV14 (https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000022871)
- Shoulder Pain – LI11, LI15, LI16, SI03, SI09, SI10, SI11, TB14, GB21 (https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13090608)
- Shoulder Pain, Impingement Subacromial, Limitation Range-of-motion Shoulder – LI15, LI16, TB14 (https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000012386)
- Pain – LU05, LU07, LU09, LU11, LI01, LI02, LI04, LI05, LI07, LI09, LI10, LI11, LI12, LI13, LI14, LI15, LI16, LI20, ST03, ST04, ST06, ST07, ST08, ST09, ST12, ST15, ST21, ST22, ST26, ST29, ST31, ST32, ST33, ST34, ST35, ST36, ST37, ST38, ST39, ST40, ST41, ST42, ST43, ST44, SP05, SP06, SP09, SP10, SP11, SP12, SP13, SP21, HT02, HT03, HT05, HT08, SI02, SI03, SI04, SI06, SI07, SI08, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI14, SI15, SI16, SI18, BL02, BL09, BL10, BL17, BL25, BL32, BL33, BL36, BL37, BL38, BL39, BL40, BL41, BL42, BL44, BL45, BL46, BL53, BL54, BL55, BL56, BL57, BL58, BL59, BL60, BL61, BL62, BL63, BL64, BL65, KD01, KD02, KD04, KD09, KD10, KD16, KD17, KD18, KD19, KD21, KD25, PC02, PC03, PC06, PC07, TB01, TB02, TB03, TB04, TB05, TB06, TB08, TB10, TB11, TB12, TB13, TB14, TB15, TB17, TB22, TB23, GB02, GB03, GB04, GB05, GB06, GB08, GB10, GB11, GB12, GB14, GB15, GB16, GB17, GB18, GB19, GB20, GB21, GB26, GB29, GB30, GB31, GB32, GB34, GB35, GB36, GB37, GB38, GB39, GB40, GB43, LV01, LV02, LV03, LV04, LV14, CV03, CV05, CV06, CV07, CV12, CV14, CV20, CV21, CV24, GV01, GV11, GV17, GV18, GV19, GV21, XB08, XC01, XH04, XH05, XH06, XH12, XH13, XH18, XL05A, XL05B, XU05, XU06, XU09A, XU09B, XU09C, XU09D, XU09E, XU09F, XU09G, XU09H, XU13, XU14, XU15A, XU15B, XU15C (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
- Shoulder Pain – LU01, LU05, LU06, LU07, LU09, LI01, LI02, LI06, LI09, LI11, LI13, LI15, LI16, ST10, ST12, ST19, ST28, HT05, SI01, SI03, SI04, SI05, SI06, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI13, SI14, SI15, SI16, SI17, BL12, BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL42, BL43, BL44, BL45, BL59, PC02, TB01, TB03, TB04, TB05, TB06, TB10, TB12, TB13, TB14, TB15, GB10, GB20, GB21, GB22, GB23, GB34, GB41, CV17, GV16, XH45, XU08 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)