Acupuncture Points for Anxiety Labor

15 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06

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

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06 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.0255-2930.20240405-k0001 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06 · LV03

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

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

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240405-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06 · HT07

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

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

HT07Spirit Gate

HT07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Palpitations, Common Cold, Heat

Study-reported

Acupressure · 1 session

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1089/jicm.2023.0072 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗
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3 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (4 points)

100%

AT09 · IN01 · TF08 · TF10

AT09Neurasthenia Area

AT09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神經衰弱區 (shén jīng shuāi ruò qū)

🎯 Location: On both ears, located between the Occiput and Cervical Vertebrae at the outside of Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Neurasthenia, Especially Falling Asleep, Difficulty Sleeping

IN01Endocrine

IN01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內分泌 (nèi fēn mì)

🎯 Location: On both ears, in the inferior portion of the Cavum Concha, 0.5 cm down from the notch between the Tragus and the Antitragus. It is corresponding to the conarium of the body.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Prostatitis, Diabetes Mellitus, Genitourinary Disorders, Diabetes Insipitus

TF08Uterus (Female) / Male Internal Genital (Male)

TF08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 子宮(女)/ 內生殖器(男) (zǐ gōng ( nǚ )/ nèi shēng zhí qì ( nán ))

🎯 Location: At the front edge of the depression in the Triangular Fossa.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Leukorrhea, Endometrial Hyperplasia

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Acupressure · a single day

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.2471.3030 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. TF10 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s11655-021-3452-0 ↗
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1 box, $19.99

Protocol (5 points)

100%

AT10 · AT15 · CVC10 · HCS02 · TF10

AT10Brain Stem

AT10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腦幹 (nǎo gàn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, right at the notch between the Antihelix and Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Epilepsy, Convulsion, Brain Related Disorders Such As Meningeal Irritation, Liver Wind

AT15Brain

AT15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腦 (nǎo)

🎯 Location: On both ears, located at the center of the upper part of the interior Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Epilepsy, Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Cerebella Ataxia, Disorders Of The Brain Such As Insufficient Blood Supply To The Brain

CVC10Thalamus

CVC10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 丘腦 (qiū nǎo)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint of the lower line of the interior Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Various Disorders

HCS02Ear Center

HCS02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳中 (支點,零點,迷走神經點) (ěr zhōng ( zhī diǎn , líng diǎn , mí zǒu shén jīng diǎn ))

🎯 Location: At the lower edge of the middle area of the Helix Crus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diabetes, Liver And Gallbladder Diseases Such As Jaundice, Nocturia, Cardiovascular Disorders Such As Bradycardia

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

3 sessions

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s11655-021-3452-0 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. TF10 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1590/1518-8345.2471.3030 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

BL32Second Bone Hole

BL32 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 次髎 (cì liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine just at the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Pain, Urinary Retention, Infertility, Sciatica

Study-reported

Acupressure · 1 session

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2014/129208 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL32 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_685_20 ↗
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1 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Anxiety Labor:

Points cited for Anxiety Labor

How often each point appears across the 15 entries ranked highest for Anxiety Labor. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian6 of 15
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian6 of 15
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 15
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points2 of 15
  • AT09Neurasthenia AreaAuricular Points1 of 15
  • AT10Brain StemAuricular Points1 of 15
  • AT15BrainAuricular Points1 of 15
  • CVC10ThalamusAuricular Points1 of 15
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian1 of 15
  • HCS02Ear CenterAuricular Points1 of 15
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian1 of 15
  • IN01EndocrineAuricular Points1 of 15

Registered, results not reported

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

LI04 · SP06 · BL32 · GB21 · GB30 – doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3896-0

How the studies delivered it

What the 12 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure9 of 12
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 12
  • Needling1 of 12

Sessions: the 8 studies that gave a count ran a median of 2 (middle half 1 to 2).

Course: the 9 studies that gave a length ran a median of 1 day (middle half 1 day to 1 day).

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.