Acupuncture Points for Acne Vulgaris

6 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · GV14

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

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Bloodletting + Cupping + Needling · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60007-8 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11 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 ↗
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Protocol (8 points)

100%

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

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

ST02Four Direction Brightness

ST02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四白 (sì bái)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil in the depression the at the infraorbital foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with infraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Headache

ST44Inner Court

ST44 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內庭 (nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Pain

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

GB14Yang Bright

GB14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽白 (yáng bái)

🎯 Location: On the forehead directly above the pupil, 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Chills, Deviation Eye

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

Study-reported

Needling · 14 sessions

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201007-k0002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60007-8 ↗
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Protocol (4 points)

100%

CVC02 · IN01 · TF10 · TR01

CVC02Lung

CVC02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺 (fèi)

🎯 Location: Occupies the lower area adjacent to the Heart area. Lower Lung is the Ipsilateral Lung.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe respiratory conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Phlegm, Asthma, Pneumonia

IN01Endocrine

IN01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內分泌 (nèi fēn mì)

🎯 Location: On both ears, in the inferior portion of the Cavum Concha, 0.5 cm down from the notch between the Tragus and the Antitragus. It is corresponding to the conarium of the body.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Prostatitis, Diabetes Mellitus, Genitourinary Disorders, Diabetes Insipitus

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

TR01Adrenal Gland

TR01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎上腺 (shèn shàng xiàn)

🎯 Location: In the center of the lower part of the Tragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Etc, Bronchial Asthma, Hematochezia, Profuse Menstruation, Rheumatic Diseases

Study-reported

Bloodletting + Acupressure · 12 sessions over 12 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210519-k0006 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Protocol (3 points)

90%

LI04 · LI11 · GV14

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

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Xu JF, Lin RZ, Wang J, Wu YL, Wang YX, Zhang YQ, Xi CL, Wu Q. Effect of acupuncture anesthesia on acne vulgaris of pricking-bloodletting cupping: a single-blind randomized clinical trail. J Tradit Chin Med 2013; 33(6): 752-756
Substantiated by a study. LI04, LI11, GV14 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60007-8 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

90%

LI04 · LI11 · GV14

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

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Unnamed CNKI record, 2013
Substantiated by a study. LI04, LI11, GV14 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60007-8 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

90%

LI04 · SP06 · SP10 · BL13 · BL15 · BL17

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

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

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

BL13Lung Shu Point

BL13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺俞 (fèi shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Asthma

BL15Heart Shu Point

BL15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心俞 (xīn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV11 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling – risk of pneumothorax. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Anxiety, Sweating, Coughing Blood

BL17Diaphragm Shu Point

BL17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膈俞 (gé shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Sweating, Dizziness

Text or case report

Needling + Bloodletting · a 3-week course

Same patient; prescription changed for a later course

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988
Substantiated by a study. LI04, SP10 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201007-k0002 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Acne Vulgaris:

Points cited for Acne Vulgaris

How often each point appears across the 6 entries ranked highest for Acne Vulgaris. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian5 of 6
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian4 of 6
  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel3 of 6
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian2 of 6
  • BL13Lung Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • BL15Heart Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • BL17Diaphragm Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel1 of 6
  • CVC02LungAuricular Points1 of 6
  • GB14Yang BrightGallbladder Meridian1 of 6
  • IN01EndocrineAuricular Points1 of 6
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian1 of 6

Tested, no effect found

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

GV14 – doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60007-8 – No better than another treatment

LI04 · LI11 · SP06 · SP10 · BL17 · GV14 – Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988 – Same patient; prescription changed for a later course

Registered, results not reported

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

LI11 · LI20 · ST02 · ST06 · ST36 · SP03 · SP06 · SP10 · HT08 · PC06 · LV03 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-82

LI11 · LI20 · ST02 · ST06 · ST36 · SP03 · SP06 · SP10 · HT08 · PC06 · LV03 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-82

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Bloodletting2 of 3
  • Needling2 of 3
  • Cupping1 of 3
  • Acupressure1 of 3

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 12 to 13).

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

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