Acupuncture Points for Bitter Taste

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (8 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · PC06 · TB06 · GB34 · LV03 · LV14 · CV12

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

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

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

TB06Branch Ditch

TB06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 支溝 (zhī gōu)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna on the radial side of the extensor digitorum.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Tinnitus, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain

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

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

LV14Qi Cycle Gate

LV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 期門 (qī mén)

🎯 Location: Directly below nipple in the 6th intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

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

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60039-4 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB34 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001487 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL19 · GB24 · GB34 · LV13

BL19Gallbladder Shu Point

BL19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膽俞 (dǎn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV07 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Common Cold, Vomiting

GB24Sun And Moon

GB24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 日月 (rì yuè)

🎯 Location: Directly below nipple in the 7th intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Jaundice, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Upper Stomach Pain

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

LV13Bright Gate

LV13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 章門 (zhāng mén)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the abdomen below free end of the 11th rib.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; caution with spleen.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

Study-reported

Thread embedding · 4 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001487 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB34 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60039-4 ↗
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Points cited for Bitter Taste

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Bitter Taste. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian2 of 2
  • BL19Gallbladder Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 2
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 2
  • GB24Sun And MoonGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 2
  • LV13Bright GateLiver Meridian1 of 2
  • LV14Qi Cycle GateLiver Meridian1 of 2
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian1 of 2
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • TB06Branch DitchTriple Burner 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.

  • Thread embedding1 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.