Acupuncture Points for Arthritis Knee Degenerative

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · GB34

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

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 2 sessions over 2 days

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1136/acupmed-2014-010722 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · KD10 · GB33 · GB34

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

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 犢鼻 (dú bí)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the lower border of the patella in the depression the lateral to the patellar ligament.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Channel Stagnation, Swollen Knee, Leg Muscle Wasting

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

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

KD10Yin Valley

KD10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰谷 (yīn gǔ)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is on the medial side of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus at the level with BL40.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Depression, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Pain

GB33Yang Knee Gate

GB33 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膝陽關 (xī yáng guān)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths above the GB34 lateral to the knee joint in the depression above the external epicondyle of the femur.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in acute knee injury.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Redness, Swelling, Qi Leg, Disease Knee

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2014-010722 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Arthritis Knee Degenerative:

Points cited for Arthritis Knee Degenerative

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Arthritis Knee Degenerative. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian2 of 2
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 2
  • GB33Yang Knee GateGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • KD10Yin ValleyKidney Meridian1 of 2
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • ST34Ridge MoundStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST35Calf's NoseStomach Meridian1 of 2

How the studies delivered it

What the 2 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electroacupuncture2 of 2
  • Needling1 of 2

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

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