Acupuncture Points for Ascites

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (10 points)

100%

BL20 · BL23 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 · CV09 · CV12 · GV04 · XC01

Point 1 of 10

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ 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
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🗺️ 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

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 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.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

CV08Spirit Palace Gate

CV08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神闕 (shén què)

🎯 Location: In the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications; often use moxa only.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Rectal Prolapse, Edema, Cold Blood, Loss of Consciousness

CV09Water Separation

CV09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水分 (shuǐ fēn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1 thumb width above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Edema, Stomach Deficiency, Breathing Problems, Heart Pain

CV12Stomach Centre

CV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中脘 (zhōng wǎn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the 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.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Common Cold, Depression

GV04Life Gate

GV04 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

XC01Child Palace (Uterus)

XC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Chest & Abdomen

🇨🇳 Chinese: 子宮 (zǐ gōng)

🎯 Location: On the abdomen, 3 thumb widths lateral to the midline, level with zongji ren-3.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Deficiency, Pain, Uterine Prolapse, Infertility, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 84 sessions over 12 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.12.010 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV08 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.2026.1751741 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

CV08Spirit Palace Gate

CV08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神闕 (shén què)

🎯 Location: In the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications; often use moxa only.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Rectal Prolapse, Edema, Cold Blood, Loss of Consciousness

Study-reported

Herbal plaster on points + Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1751741 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV08 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.12.010 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

CV08Spirit Palace Gate

CV08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神闕 (shén què)

🎯 Location: In the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications; often use moxa only.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Rectal Prolapse, Edema, Cold Blood, Loss of Consciousness

Study-reported

Herbal plaster on points + Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1751741 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV08 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.12.010 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Ascites:

Points cited for Ascites

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Ascites. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • CV08Spirit Palace GateConception Vessel3 of 3
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV09Water SeparationConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 3
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel1 of 3
  • XC01Child Palace (Uterus)Extra Points: Chest & Abdomen1 of 3

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.

  • Moxibustion2 of 2
  • Herbal plaster on points1 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.