Acupuncture Points for Abdominal Postoperative Pain

7 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Abdominal Postoperative Pain

How often each point appears across the 7 entries ranked highest for Abdominal Postoperative Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian5 of 7
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian4 of 7
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian4 of 7
  • ST37Upper Great HollowStomach Meridian4 of 7
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian3 of 7
  • BL21Stomach Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 7
  • BL27Small Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 7
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel1 of 7
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 7
  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian1 of 7

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06

Point 1 of 2

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1177/2055116919855809 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210711 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST36 · ST37 · SP06

Point 1 of 3

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 3 sessions over 2 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210711 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, ST37, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20211181 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST25 · ST36 · ST37 · SP06 · CV06 · CV12

Point 1 of 6

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

Study-reported

Press needles · a 3-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20211181 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, ST37, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210711 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06 · PC06

Point 1 of 3

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

Study-reported

Acupressure · 2 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1080/03630242.2024.2428793 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.2147/CMAR.S292325 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · ST37 · BL21 · BL27 · PC06

Point 1 of 6

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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 6 sessions over 3 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/CMAR.S292325 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, ST37, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s11655-025-3844-7 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · ST37 · PC06

Point 1 of 4

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s11655-025-3844-7 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, ST37, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.2147/CMAR.S292325 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 7 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electroacupuncture2 of 7
  • Acupressure2 of 7
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 7
  • Press needles1 of 7

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 3 (middle half 2 to 6).

Course: the 6 studies that gave a length ran a median of 2 days (middle half 1 day to 3 days).

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

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