Acupuncture Points for Ankylosing Spondylitis

12 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (8 points)

100%

ST36 · SP10 · BL23 · BL25 · CV03 · CV22 · GV02 · GV14

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

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

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain

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

CV22Celestial Prominence

CV22 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天突 (tiān tū)

🎯 Location: In the center of the suprasternal fossa.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax; caution with trachea.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Coughing Blood

GV02Lumbar Point

GV02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰俞 (yāo shū)

🎯 Location: In the hiatus of the sacrum.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacral conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Hip Pain, Epilepsy, Hemorrhoids, Lower Back Pain, Spontaneous Sweating

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

Moxibustion + Thread embedding · 8 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231040 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2019.05.013 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23 · GV03 · GV14

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

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

GV03Yang Lumbar Gate

GV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰陽關 (yāo yáng guān)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Lower Back Pain, Urine White, Benefit Legs, Benefit Back Lumbar

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2019.05.013 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231040 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

GV03 · GV14

GV03Yang Lumbar Gate

GV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰陽關 (yāo yáng guān)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Lower Back Pain, Urine White, Benefit Legs, Benefit Back Lumbar

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

Moxibustion · 18 sessions over 9 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230616-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV03, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2019.05.013 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

CV03 · CV22 · GV03 · GV14

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

CV22Celestial Prominence

CV22 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天突 (tiān tū)

🎯 Location: In the center of the suprasternal fossa.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax; caution with trachea.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Coughing Blood

GV03Yang Lumbar Gate

GV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰陽關 (yāo yáng guān)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Lower Back Pain, Urine White, Benefit Legs, Benefit Back Lumbar

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

Moxibustion · 18 sessions over 9 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230616-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV03, CV22, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231040 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

BL54 · GV01 · GV04 · GV14 · GV20

BL54Lowermost In Order

BL54 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 秩邊 (zhì biān)

🎯 Location: On the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen 3 thumb widths lateral to the median sacral crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Kidney Deficiency, Pain, Urinary Retention, Hemorrhoids, Sciatica

GV01Long Strength

GV01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 長強 (cháng qiáng)

🎯 Location: Midway between tip of the coccyx and anus, locate point with patient in the prone position.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in spinal conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Anxiety, Common Cold, Pain, Damp

GV04Life Gate

GV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 命門 (mìng mén)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Anxiety, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

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

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Needling + Moxibustion · 21 sessions over 3 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210925-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV04, GV14 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.0255-2930.2018.10.006 ↗
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105 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST36 · SP10 · BL23 · BL25 · GV14

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

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

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain

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

Thread embedding · 8 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231040 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2019.05.013 ↗
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Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Ankylosing Spondylitis:

Points cited for Ankylosing Spondylitis

How often each point appears across the 12 entries ranked highest for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel12 of 12
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian6 of 12
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian6 of 12
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel4 of 12
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 12
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel3 of 12
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian3 of 12
  • BL11Great ShuttleBladder Meridian2 of 12
  • BL17Diaphragm Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 12
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 12
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel2 of 12
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel2 of 12

Registered, results not reported

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

BL18 · BL23 · GB34 · GV03 · GV04 · GV06 · GV08 – doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05344-z

How the studies delivered it

What the 6 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Moxibustion4 of 6
  • Needling2 of 6
  • Thread embedding1 of 6

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 21 (middle half 18 to 21).

Course: the 5 studies that gave a length ran a median of 37 days (middle half 3 weeks to 8 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.