Acupuncture Points for Anxiety Preoperative

19 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · HT07 · PC06 · LV03 · CV17 · GV26

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

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

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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

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

CV17Chest Centre

CV17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膻中 (dàn zhōng)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline at the level with 4th intercostal space, midway between nipples.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – needle transversely along the sternum. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

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

GV26Philtrum

GV26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水溝 (shuǐ gōu)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the upper ⅓ and middle ⅓ of the philtrum.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Jaundice, Depression, Wind, Chills

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33459-y ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, HT07, PC06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1753114 ↗
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Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST34 · ST36 · PC06

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

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 梁丘 (liáng qiū)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Wind, Numbness, Leg Pain, Pain

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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 1 session

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102936 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33459-y ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

GV20 · XH01A · XH01B · XH01C · XH01D

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

XH01AFour Spirit Brightness

XH01A acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

XH01BFour Spirit Brightness

XH01B acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

XH01CFour Spirit Brightness

XH01C acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

XH01DFour Spirit Brightness

XH01D acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 2 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20211124-k0009 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV20 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1753114 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06 · HT07 · PC06 · LV03 · GV20

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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

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

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1753114 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, HT07, PC06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33459-y ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · PC06

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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 1 session

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.12.009 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33459-y ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

AT07 · AT10 · AT12 · CVC01 · CVC09 · CYC08 · CYC11 · IAC03 · TF10

AT07Occiput

AT07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 枕 (zhěn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, located at the lower lateral line of the Exterior Antitragus. At the midpoint between Temple and Brain Stem.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Vertigo, Convulsion

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

AT12Nervous Subcortex

AT12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神經皮質下 (shén jīng pí zhì xià)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the lower 1/2 of the interior wall of the Antitragus; in the midpoint between Thalamus and the beginning of the medial lower line of the interior Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Neurosis, Schizophrenia

CVC01Heart

CVC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心 (xīn)

🎯 Location: A depression which is located at the center of Cavum Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe cardiac conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Hypertension, Arrhythmia, Neurasthenia, Raynaud's Disease, Heart Disease

CVC09San Jiao

CVC09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三焦 (sān jiāo)

🎯 Location: At the middle area from the inferior and lateral edge of the hole of the External Auditory Canal to the Nervous Subcortex. This is where the mixed branches of the Facial nerve, Vagus nerve and Glossopharyngeal nerve exit.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Constipation, Toothache, Edema, Facial Spasm

CYC08Liver

CYC08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝 (gān)

🎯 Location: In the lateral inferior area of the Cymba Conchae.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in acute hepatitis.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Neurosis, Hypertension, Vertex Headache, Facial Spasm

CYC11Kidney

CYC11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎 (shèn)

🎯 Location: At the superanterior corner of Cymba Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Impotence, Indigestion, Ascites, Nephritis

IAC03Sympathetic

IAC03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 交感 (jiāo gǎn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the end of the upper edge of the lower Crus of the Antihelix.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Etc, Over Secretion Diseases, Internal Organ Pain, Autonomic Nerve Disorders, Spasms

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 4-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S562267 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. AT12, CVC01, TF10 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.0255-2930.2019.08.008 ↗
Press Needles
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AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Points cited for Anxiety Preoperative

How often each point appears across the 19 entries ranked highest for Anxiety Preoperative. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian8 of 19
  • XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal HallExtra Points: Head7 of 19
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian6 of 19
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian5 of 19
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian4 of 19
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel3 of 19
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points3 of 19
  • AT12Nervous SubcortexAuricular Points2 of 19
  • CVC01HeartAuricular Points2 of 19
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 19
  • AT07OcciputAuricular Points1 of 19
  • AT10Brain StemAuricular Points1 of 19

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Anxiety Preoperative and found no effect. They are not counted above.

TF10 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

ST36 · LV03 · GV20 · XH01A · XH01B · XH01C · XH01D · XH03 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

Registered, results not reported

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

CVC02 · CYC08 · CYC11 · IAC03 · TF10 – doi:10.2196/97469

LU09 · LI04 · ST36 · ST37 · PC06 · LV03 · GV20 · GV23 · XH03 – doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1095650

LI04 · ST36 · HT07 · PC06 · LV03 · CV17 · GV26 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-292

LI04 · LV03 · GV20 · XH03 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067082

How the studies delivered it

What the 18 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure6 of 18
  • Needling4 of 18
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin4 of 18
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 18
  • Press needles1 of 18

Sessions: the 13 studies that gave a count ran a median of 1 (middle half 1 to 1).

Course: the 13 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.