Acupuncture Points for Anxiety Preoperative

10 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Anxiety Preoperative

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

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian5 of 10
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian5 of 10
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian3 of 10
  • CYC08LiverAuricular Points2 of 10
  • CYC11KidneyAuricular Points2 of 10
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel2 of 10
  • IAC03SympatheticAuricular Points2 of 10
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 10
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 10
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points2 of 10
  • AT07OcciputAuricular Points1 of 10
  • AT10Brain StemAuricular Points1 of 10

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (7 points)

100%

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

Point 1 of 7

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:10.1038/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 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST34 · ST36 · PC06

Point 1 of 4

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

Electroacupuncture · 1 session

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

Point 1 of 5

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

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

Point 1 of 6

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

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 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · PC06

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 1 session

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

Point 1 of 9

AT07Occiput

AT07 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Acupressure · a 4-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S562267 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CYC08, CYC11, IAC03, TF10 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.2196/97469 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 9 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure3 of 9
  • Needling2 of 9
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 9
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 9

Sessions: the 4 studies that gave a count ran a median of 1 (middle half 1 to 1).

Course: the 4 studies that gave a length ran a median of 1 day (middle half 1 day to 2 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.