Acupuncture Points for Acne

13 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Acne:

Points cited for Acne

How often each point appears across the 13 entries ranked highest for Acne. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian6 of 13
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian6 of 13
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian5 of 13
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian5 of 13
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian5 of 13
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian4 of 13
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel4 of 13
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 13
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel3 of 13
  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel3 of 13
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian3 of 13
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian3 of 13

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST25 · BL23 · BL32 · GB26

Point 1 of 4

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

Electroacupuncture · 36 sessions over 12 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230575 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST29 · SP06 · KD03 · CV04

Point 1 of 4

ST29Return

ST29 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 归来 (guī lái)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV03.

⚠️ 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: Absent Periods, Swelling, Pain, Uterine Prolapse, Infertility

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 24 sessions over 12 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1723419 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2022/2920132 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

SP06 · SP10 · LV03 · CV03 · CV04

Point 1 of 5

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

Study-reported

Acupressure · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2022/2920132 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1723419 ↗

Protocol (10 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · SP06 · SP10 · BL13 · BL17 · BL18 · BL20 · GV14

Point 1 of 10

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.27044/d.cnki.ggzzu.2019.000997 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, SP10 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.0255-2930.20201007-k0002 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12 · GV03 · GV04

Point 1 of 6

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240612-0003 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV03, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2022/2920132 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST02 · ST44 · SP09 · SP10 · GB14 · CV06

Point 1 of 8

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

Needling · 14 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201007-k0002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, SP10 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.27044/d.cnki.ggzzu.2019.000997 ↗
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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.

  • Needling3 of 7
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 7
  • Acupressure1 of 7

Sessions: the 4 studies that gave a count ran a median of 19 (middle half 14 to 27).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 12 weeks (middle half 9 weeks to 12 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.