Acupuncture Points for Abdominal Pain

140 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

SP04 · PC06 · GV20

SP04Grandfather Grandson

SP04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 公孫 (gōng sūn)

🎯 Location: In the depression the distal and inferior to the base of the 1st metatarsal bone at the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Jaundice, Depression, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Needling

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3748/wjg.v13.i40.5360 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP04, PC06, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.09.009 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST37 · PC06 · CV12

ST37Upper Great Hollow

ST37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上巨虛 (shàng jù xū)

🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Spleen Weakness, Stomach Weakness, Common Cold

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

CV12Stomach Centre

CV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中脘 (zhōng wǎn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Common Cold, Depression

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 8 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1136/acupmed-2011-010026 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST37, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2019/7680963 ↗
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Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST23 · ST27

ST23Great Unity

ST23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太乙 (tài yǐ)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV10.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Phlegm, Calm Spirit Shen, Regulate Jiao Middle, Calm Spirit Shen, Benefit Regulate Jiao Middle

ST27Great Bulge

ST27 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大巨 (dà jù)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV05.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Palpitations, Insomnia, Urinary Retention, Agitation, Fullness

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-124 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST23, ST27 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101080 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · LV03

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足三里 (zú sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cases of severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Needling · 10 sessions over 10 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1471-230X-12-150 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, SP06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3831/KPI.2014.17.028 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST25 · CV06 · CV12

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

CV12Stomach Centre

CV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中脘 (zhōng wǎn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Common Cold, Depression

Study-reported

Moxibustion · a 4-week course

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-500 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST25, CV06, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1038/srep36636 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · SP06 · SP09 · SP10 · TB05 · LV03

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足三里 (zú sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cases of severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 血海 (xuè hǎi)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the mediosuperior border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of the quadriceps femoris.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Absent Periods, Blood Stagnation, Pain, Hives

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Needling · 46 sessions over 46 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3831/KPI.2014.17.028 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20200814-k0003 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Abdominal Pain:

Points cited for Abdominal Pain

How often each point appears across the 50 entries ranked highest for Abdominal Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian30 of 50
  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian22 of 50
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian21 of 50
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel15 of 50
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel13 of 50
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel13 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian13 of 50
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian11 of 50
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel9 of 50
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian9 of 50
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian8 of 50
  • ST37Upper Great HollowStomach Meridian8 of 50

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Abdominal Pain and found no effect. They are not counted above.

ST36 – doi:10.3109/02813432.2013.862915 – No better than a waitlist

ST25 · ST37 – doi:10.1155/2015/361786 – No better than another treatment

LI11 · ST37 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003884 – No better than another treatment

ST25 · BL25 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003884 – No better than another treatment

LI11 · ST25 · ST37 · BL25 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003884 – No better than another treatment

ST25 · ST36 · ST37 · BL25 · CV04 · CV12 – doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20191220-k0001 – No better than another treatment

SP06 – doi:10.1155/2015/621490 – No better than another treatment

ST36 · SP03 · SP06 · LV03 – Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994 – Same patient; prescription changed for a later course

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Abdominal Pain and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

SP06 · CV04 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0552-1

LI04 · ST36 · PC06 – doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0936-5

ST25 · ST36 – doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1386-4

ST25 · ST36 · ST37 · SP06 · LV03 · GV20 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010877

LI04 · ST25 · ST36 · PC06 · CV04 · CV12 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000025035

ST36 · BL40 · CV12 – doi:10.1177/2164956119870444

LI04 · ST36 · ST37 · ST39 · LV03 – doi:10.3389/fsurg.2024.1349975

ST29 · SP04 · SP06 · SP08 · BL32 · CV03 – doi:10.2147/JPR.S537971

ST25 · ST36 · ST37 · SP06 · LV03 · GV20 – doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1782020

ST36 · SP04 · PC06 · LV03 · CV12 · GV24 · XH01A · XH01B · XH01C · XH01D – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121725

CV12 · CV13 · AH15 · CVC06 · IAC03 · TF10 – doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2644-1

LI04 · ST36 · ST37 · SP06 · PC06 · GB39 · CV12 · CV13 · AH15 · CVC06 · IAC03 · TF10 – doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2644-1

ST25 · ST26 – doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2948-1 – Merges groups A and B (homotopic, noxious and innocuous intensity)

ST36 · ST37 – doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2948-1 – Merges groups C and D (heterotopic, noxious and innocuous intensity)

LI04 · ST36 · ST37 · ST39 · SP03 · PC06 · LV03 – doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4071-3

How the studies delivered it

What the 41 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling22 of 41
  • Moxibustion9 of 41
  • Electroacupuncture4 of 41
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 41
  • Acupressure1 of 41

Sessions: the 10 studies that gave a count ran a median of 9 (middle half 3 to 12).

Course: the 18 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 5 days to 8 weeks).

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.