AcuiQ

Acupuncture Points for Ankylosing Spondylitis

6 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Ankylosing Spondylitis:

Back PainLower Back PainJoint PainKidney Yang DeficiencyBack Lower PainLower Back Pain

Points cited for Ankylosing Spondylitis

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

  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel6 of 6
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 6
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel3 of 6
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian3 of 6
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 6
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel2 of 6
  • CV22Celestial ProminenceConception Vessel2 of 6
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian2 of 6
  • BL54Lowermost In OrderBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • GV01Long StrengthGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • GV02Lumbar PointGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel1 of 6

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (8 points)

100%

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

Lower Back PainStiffness MorningBack Lower PainKidney Yang DeficiencyLumbar WeaknessAnkylosing Spondylitis
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

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

Spine PainAnkylosing Spondylitis
Point 1 of 4

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

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

Back PainJoint PainLower Back PainAnkylosing Spondylitis
Point 1 of 2

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

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

Back PainJoint PainLower Back PainAnkylosing Spondylitis
Point 1 of 4

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

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. 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

Ankylosing Spondylitis
Point 1 of 5

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

Study-reported

Needling + Moxibustion · 21 sessions over 3 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210925-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV14 also appears 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%

ST36 · SP10 · BL23 · BL25 · GV14

Lumbar PainAnkylosing Spondylitis
Point 1 of 5

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

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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How the studies delivered it

What the 4 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Moxibustion3 of 4
  • Thread embedding1 of 4
  • Needling1 of 4

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 18 (middle half 13 to 20).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 8 weeks (middle half 39 days to 60 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.