Acupuncture Points for Cervical Pain

12 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Cervical Pain:

Points cited for Cervical Pain

How often each point appears across the 12 entries ranked highest for Cervical Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian6 of 12
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian4 of 12
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 12
  • SI11Heavenly GatheringSmall Intestine Meridian3 of 12
  • SI15Middle Shoulder PointSmall Intestine Meridian3 of 12
  • LI16Great BoneLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • SI03Back StreamSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • SI09True ShoulderSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • SI10Upper Arm Shu PointSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • SI12Grasping The WindSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • SI13Crooked WallSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • SI14Outer Shoulder PointSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 12

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (24 points)

100%

LU05 · LU09 · LI02 · LI11 · ST41 · ST45 · SP02 · SP05 · HT07 · HT09 · SI03 · SI08 · BL65 · BL67 · KD01 · KD07 · PC07 · PC09 · TB03 · TB10 · GB38 · GB43 · LV02 · LV08

Point 1 of 24

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

Study-reported

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2015/802846 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI03 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · ST29 · SP12 · BL27 · KD11 · LV03

Point 1 of 6

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1136/acupmed-2016-011164 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗

Protocol (15 points)

100%

LU01 · LU03 · LU04 · LU11 · LI14 · LI15 · LI16 · ST38 · SI09 · SI10 · SI11 · SI12 · SI13 · SI14 · SI15

Point 1 of 15

LU01Central Mansion

LU01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中府 (zhōng fǔ)

🎯 Location: Laterosuperior to the sternum 1 thumb width below LU02 at the level of the 1st intercostal space 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle obliquely or laterally, never deeply or medially – risk of pneumothorax.

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

Study-reported

Needling + Point injection · 20 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

SI04 · SI11 · SI15 · GB20 · GB21

Point 1 of 5

SI04Wrist Bone

SI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腕骨 (wàn gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the ulnar side of the palm in the depression the between base of the 5th metacarpal bone and hamate bone.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Jaundice, Heat, Spleen Deficiency

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039483 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI11, SI15, GB20, GB21 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗

Protocol (16 points)

100%

LI04 · SI03 · SI06 · SI09 · SI10 · SI11 · SI12 · SI13 · SI14 · SI15 · BL60 · GB19 · GB20 · GB21 · GB34 · GV20

Point 1 of 16

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

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI13, SI14, SI15 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.206 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

BL23 · GB20 · GB21 · GV03 · GV04 · GV17

Point 1 of 6

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn yú)

🎯 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

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3831/KPI.2021.24.3.122 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB20, GB21 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.0000000000039483 ↗
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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.

  • Needling5 of 9
  • Acupressure2 of 9
  • Point injection1 of 9
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 9

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

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