Acupuncture Points for Arthritis Rheumatoid

54 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · SP09 · PC06 · LV08

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

LV08Spring At The Bend

LV08 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲泉 (qū quán)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain, Common Cold, Heat, Abdominal Pain

Study-reported

Laser · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s10103-021-03287-0 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP09 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2213-y ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · SP09 · PC06 · LV08

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

LV08Spring At The Bend

LV08 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲泉 (qū quán)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain, Common Cold, Heat, Abdominal Pain

Study-reported

Laser · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s10103-021-03287-0 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP09 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2213-y ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · CV04

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

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元 (guān yuán)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 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. Bleeding in pregnancy requires obstetric assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Kidney Deficiency

Study-reported

Moxibustion · a 90-day course

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.4314/mmj.v37i5.15 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

BL13 · BL18 · BL20 · BL23 · GV04 · GV14

BL13Lung Shu Point

BL13 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺俞 (fèi shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

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

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

GV04Life Gate

GV04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 命門 (mìng mén)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Anxiety, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Herbal plaster on points

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101574 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL20, BL23, GV04, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.829409 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23

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

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 15 sessions over 5 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230414-k0005 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/7150605 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23

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

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/7150605 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23 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.0255-2930.20230414-k0005 ↗
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Arthritis Rheumatoid:

Points cited for Arthritis Rheumatoid

How often each point appears across the 50 entries ranked highest for Arthritis Rheumatoid. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian30 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian29 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian11 of 50
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian9 of 50
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian8 of 50
  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel7 of 50
  • GB39Suspended BellGallbladder Meridian6 of 50
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian6 of 50
  • TB05Outer GateTriple Burner Meridian6 of 50
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian5 of 50
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian5 of 50
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian5 of 50

Tested, no effect found

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

LI11 · SP10 · KD03 · KD10 · TB04 · GB20 · GB34 · CV04 – doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.200181 – No better than another treatment

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · LV03 – Firozeh Karimipour et al.. Effect of Acupressure on Severity of Pain in Arthritis Rheumatoid Patient. Majalah-i ̒ilmī pizishkī-i jundī/shapūr, 2012 – No better than usual care

Registered, results not reported

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

LI04 · LI10 · BL18 · BL23 · TB03 – doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05416-0

ST36 · ST41 · ST44 · BL18 · BL23 – doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05416-0

GV01 · GV02 · GV03 · GV04 · GV05 · GV06 · GV07 · GV08 · GV09 · GV10 · GV11 · GV12 · GV13 · GV14 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030701 – 7-9 am and 5-7 pm moxibustion arms merged (identical points)

How the studies delivered it

What the 27 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Moxibustion16 of 27
  • Needling7 of 27
  • Laser3 of 27
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 27
  • Herbal plaster on points1 of 27
  • Bloodletting1 of 27

Sessions: the 20 studies that gave a count ran a median of 18 (middle half 15 to 36).

Course: the 24 studies that gave a length ran a median of 8 weeks (middle half 5 weeks to 12 weeks).

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

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