Acupuncture Points for Anemia Iron Deficiency

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (10 points)

100%

ST27 · ST40 · SP03 · SP14 · SI03 · KD02 · TB06 · GB41 · CV04 · CV12

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

ST40Abundant Bulge

ST40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 豐隆 (fēng lóng)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

SP03Great White

SP03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太白 (tài bái)

🎯 Location: Proximal and inferior to the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Constipation, Heat, Vomiting

SP14Abdominal Bind

SP14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腹結 (fù jié)

🎯 Location: 13 thumb widths below SP15, 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline, on the lateral side of the rectus abdominis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Dysentery

SI03Back Stream

SI03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 後谿 (hòu xī)

🎯 Location: When loose fist is made point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Tinnitus, Jaundice, Common Cold

KD02Blazing Valley

KD02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 然谷 (rán gǔ)

🎯 Location: Anterior and inferior to the medial malleolus in the depression on the lower border of the tuberosity of the navicular bone.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Heat Deficiency, Asthma

TB06Branch Ditch

TB06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 支溝 (zhī gōu)

🎯 Location: 3 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 on the radial side of the extensor digitorum.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Tinnitus, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain

GB41Foot Governor Of Tears

GB41 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足臨泣 (zú lín qì)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the 4th metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression the lateral to the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元 (guān yuán)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 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. Bleeding in pregnancy requires obstetric assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Kidney 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 · an 8-week course

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.4103/0366-6999.200549 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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1 box, $19.99

Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL17 · GB39 · LV13

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

GB39Suspended Bell

GB39 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 懸鐘 (xuán zhōng)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Anxiety, Knee Pain, Dizziness, Heat

LV13Bright Gate

LV13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 章門 (zhāng mén)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the abdomen below free end of the 11th rib.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; caution with spleen.

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

Study-reported

Needling · 14 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.51507/j.jams.2023.16.6.263 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB39 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.21608/bijpt.2024.304165.1036 ↗
Press Needles
42 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

100%

SP06 · GB39

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

GB39Suspended Bell

GB39 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 懸鐘 (xuán zhōng)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Anxiety, Knee Pain, Dizziness, Heat

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 36 sessions over 12 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.21608/bijpt.2024.304165.1036 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB39 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.51507/j.jams.2023.16.6.263 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Anemia Iron Deficiency:

Points cited for Anemia Iron Deficiency

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Anemia Iron Deficiency. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB39Suspended BellGallbladder Meridian2 of 3
  • BL17Diaphragm Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 3
  • GB41Foot Governor Of TearsGallbladder Meridian1 of 3
  • KD02Blazing ValleyKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • LV13Bright GateLiver Meridian1 of 3
  • SI03Back StreamSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 3
  • SP03Great WhiteSpleen Meridian1 of 3
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian1 of 3
  • SP14Abdominal BindSpleen Meridian1 of 3
  • ST27Great BulgeStomach Meridian1 of 3

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.

  • Needling2 of 3
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 3

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 8 weeks (middle half 5 weeks to 10 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.