Acupuncture Points for Ankle Pain

10 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Ankle Pain

How often each point appears across the 10 entries ranked highest for Ankle Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST41Dividing CleftStomach Meridian9 of 10
  • KD06Shining SeaKidney Meridian7 of 10
  • BL60Kunlun (Mountains)Bladder Meridian6 of 10
  • GB40MoundGallbladder Meridian6 of 10
  • BL62Extending VesselBladder Meridian5 of 10
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian5 of 10
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian5 of 10
  • SP05Metal HillSpleen Meridian4 of 10
  • GB39Suspended BellGallbladder Meridian3 of 10
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian2 of 10
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 10
  • SP04Grandfather GrandsonSpleen Meridian2 of 10

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (18 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · ST41 · SP04 · SP05 · SP06 · SP09 · HT07 · BL60 · BL62 · BL63 · BL64 · KD02 · KD03 · KD06 · GB34 · GB40 · LV03

Point 1 of 18

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 · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB40 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4111-z ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

ST36 · ST41 · BL60 · BL62 · KD03 · KD06 · GB39 · GB40

Point 1 of 8

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

Needling · 5 sessions over 7 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4111-z ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB39, GB40 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05135-6 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

ST36 · ST41 · BL60 · BL62 · KD03 · KD06 · GB39 · GB40

Point 1 of 8

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

Needling · 5 sessions over 5 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05135-6 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB39, GB40 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4111-z ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST41 · BL62 · KD06 · LV03

Point 1 of 4

ST41Dividing Cleft

ST41 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 解谿 (jiě xī )

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle joint in the depression the between tendons of the extensor digitorum longus and hallucis longus approximately at the level of the tip of the external malleolus.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Dizziness, Palpitations, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.713548 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST41, BL62, KD06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST41 · BL40 · BL60 · KD06 · KD09 · GB39

Point 1 of 6

ST41Dividing Cleft

ST41 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 解谿 (jiě xī )

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle joint in the depression the between tendons of the extensor digitorum longus and hallucis longus approximately at the level of the tip of the external malleolus.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Dizziness, Palpitations, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12659/MSM.944157 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST41, BL60, KD06, GB39 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4111-z ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST41 · SP04 · SP05 · SP06 · KD03 · KD06

Point 1 of 6

ST41Dividing Cleft

ST41 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 解谿 (jiě xī )

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle joint in the depression the between tendons of the extensor digitorum longus and hallucis longus approximately at the level of the tip of the external malleolus.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Dizziness, Palpitations, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Needling · 3 sessions over 5 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000042413 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST41, SP04, SP05, SP06, KD03, KD06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 8 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling7 of 8
  • Point injection1 of 8

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

Course: the 5 studies that gave a length ran a median of 5 days (middle half 5 days to 7 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.