# Acupoints for Acne

13 sourced protocols for Acne. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/acne

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ST25 (Celestial Pivot), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), BL32 (Second Bone Hole), GB26 (Girdle Vessel) | – | – | doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230575 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | ST29 (Return), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), KD03 (Great Stream), CV04 (Original Qi Gate) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1723419 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), LV03 (Great Surge), CV03 (Central Pivot), CV04 (Original Qi Gate) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2022/2920132 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), BL13 (Lung Shu Point), BL17 (Diaphragm Shu Point), BL18 (Liver Shu Point), BL20 (Spleen Shu Point), GV14 (Great Vertebra) | – | – | doi:10.27044/d.cnki.ggzzu.2019.000997 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | CV03 (Central Pivot), CV04 (Original Qi Gate), CV06 (Sea Of Qi), CV12 (Stomach Centre), GV03 (Yang Lumbar Gate), GV04 (Life Gate) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240612-0003 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST02 (Four Direction Brightness), ST44 (Inner Court), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB14 (Yang Bright), CV06 (Sea Of Qi) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201007-k0002 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST04 (Earth Granary), ST06 (Jaw Bone), SI19 (Palace Of Hearing), BL13 (Lung Shu Point), GB14 (Yang Bright), CV24 (Saliva Receptacle), GV14 (Great Vertebra), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | Liu Zhaohui. Clinical Observation on the Effect of Earlobe-Bleeding plus Body Acupuncture in 78 Cases of Common Acne. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2000, 20(4): 262-264 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 8 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | Liu Zhaohui. Clinical Observation on the Effect of Earlobe-Bleeding plus Body Acupuncture in 78 Cases of Common Acne. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2000, 20(4): 262-264 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 9 | BL18 (Liver Shu Point), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), KD03 (Great Stream), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | Liu Zhaohui. Clinical Observation on the Effect of Earlobe-Bleeding plus Body Acupuncture in 78 Cases of Common Acne. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2000, 20(4): 262-264 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 10 | ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST40 (Abundant Bulge), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), CV06 (Sea Of Qi) | – | – | Liu Zhaohui. Clinical Observation on the Effect of Earlobe-Bleeding plus Body Acupuncture in 78 Cases of Common Acne. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2000, 20(4): 262-264 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 11 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST25 (Celestial Pivot), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST40 (Abundant Bulge), SP04 (Grandfather Grandson), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP08 (Earth'S Cure), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), SP15 (Great Horizontal), BL17 (Diaphragm Shu Point), BL18 (Liver Shu Point), BL20 (Spleen Shu Point), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), BL32 (Second Bone Hole), KD03 (Great Stream), KD12 (Great Manifestation), GB26 (Girdle Vessel), CV04 (Original Qi Gate), CV12 (Stomach Centre) | – | – | Yu LQ, Liao YJ, Wu HA, Zhao JM, Wu LY, Shi Y, Fang JQ. Effects of electroacupuncture and Chinese kidney-nourishing medicine on polycystic ovary syndrome in obese patients. J Tradit Chin Med 2013; 33(3): 287-293 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 12 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST44 (Inner Court), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SI18 (Cheek Bone Hole), BL18 (Liver Shu Point), BL19 (Gallbladder Shu Point), GV14 (Great Vertebra) | – | – | 刘慧萍. 刮痧结合针剌治疗湿热蕴结型痤疮的临床疗效观察. , [CNKI] | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 13 | GV12 (Body Pillar) | – | – | doi:10.19945/j.cnki.issn.1006-3250.2017.01.042 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST25 | Celestial Pivot | Stomach Meridian | 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus. |
| BL23 | Kidney Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra. |
| BL32 | Second Bone Hole | Bladder Meridian | On the sacrum medial and inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine just at the 2nd posterior sacral foramen. |
| GB26 | Girdle Vessel | Gallbladder Meridian | Directly below lr13 (zhangmen) at the crossing point of the vertical line through free end of the 11th rib and horizontal line through umbilicus. |
| ST29 | Return | Stomach Meridian | 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV03. |
| SP06 | Three Yin Intersection | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia. |
| KD03 | Great Stream | Kidney Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| CV04 | Original Qi Gate | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| SP10 | Sea Of Blood | Spleen Meridian | 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. |
| LV03 | Great Surge | Liver Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. |
| CV03 | Central Pivot | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| LI04 | Junction Valley | Large Intestine Meridian | On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. |
| LI11 | Pond At The Bend | Large Intestine Meridian | 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. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| BL13 | Lung Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra. |
| BL17 | Diaphragm Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra. |
| BL18 | Liver Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra. |
| BL20 | Spleen Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra. |
| GV14 | Great Vertebra | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders. |
| CV06 | Sea Of Qi | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 1.5 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| CV12 | Stomach Centre | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the umbilicus. |
| GV03 | Yang Lumbar Gate | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest. |
| GV04 | Life Gate | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra. |
| ST02 | Four Direction Brightness | Stomach Meridian | Directly below pupil in the depression the at the infraorbital foramen. |
| ST44 | Inner Court | Stomach Meridian | Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint. |
| SP09 | Yin Mound Spring | Spleen Meridian | 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. |
| GB14 | Yang Bright | Gallbladder Meridian | On the forehead directly above the pupil, 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow. |
| ST04 | Earth Granary | Stomach Meridian | Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil. |
| ST06 | Jaw Bone | Stomach Meridian | One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed. |
| SI19 | Palace Of Hearing | Small Intestine Meridian | Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible in the depression the formed when mouth is open. |
| CV24 | Saliva Receptacle | Conception Vessel | In the depression the in the center of the mentolabial groove. |
| GV20 | 100 Convergences | Governing Vessel | 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. |
| TB05 | Outer Gate | Triple Burner Meridian | 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. |
| GB34 | Yang Mound Spring | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. |
| ST40 | Abundant Bulge | Stomach Meridian | 8 thumb widths superior to the tip of the external malleolus, lateral to the ST38 about 2 finger breadth (middle finger) lateral to the anterior border of the tibia. |
| SP04 | Grandfather Grandson | Spleen Meridian | In the depression the distal and inferior to the base of the 1st metatarsal bone at the junction of the red and white skin. |
| SP08 | Earth'S Cure | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths below SP09 on the line connecting tip of the medial malleolus and SP09. |
| SP15 | Great Horizontal | Spleen Meridian | 4 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus lateral to the rectus abdominis. |
| KD12 | Great Manifestation | Kidney Meridian | 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV03. |
| SI18 | Cheek Bone Hole | Small Intestine Meridian | Directly below outer canthus in the depression on the lower border of the zygoma. |
| BL19 | Gallbladder Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV07 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra. |
| GV12 | Body Pillar | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra. |

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AcuiQ-authored prose (symptom and meridian descriptions, the wiki, the auricular crosswalk) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The assembled protocol compilation is not: build on it with attribution, but do not redistribute it whole as a dataset – https://acuiq.com/terms. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms