AcuiQ

Acupuncture Points for Low Back Non-specific Pain

12 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

AcuiQ posts on X about the papers it indexes. Follow @acu_iq

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Low Back Non-specific Pain:

Chronic Nonspecific Low-back PainLow Back Chronic PainLow Back PainDisability Low BackLumbar StiffnessBack Lower Pain

Points cited for Low Back Non-specific Pain

How often each point appears across the 12 entries ranked highest for Low Back Non-specific Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian11 of 12
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian10 of 12
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian8 of 12
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian6 of 12
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu PointBladder Meridian5 of 12
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel5 of 12
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel5 of 12
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian4 of 12
  • GV05Suspended PivotGoverning Vessel4 of 12
  • BL26Original Qi Gate Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 12
  • BL54Lowermost In OrderBladder Meridian1 of 12
  • BL57Mountain SupportBladder Meridian1 of 12

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · GB30

Disability Low BackLow Back Chronic PainLow Back Non-specific Pain
Point 1 of 4

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

Laser + Electroacupuncture · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269282 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1857622 ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25 · BL40 · BL57 · BL60 · GB30 · GB34 · GV03 · GV04

Low Back Non-specific Pain
Point 1 of 9

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13457/j.cnki.jncm.2025.01.020 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1857622 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25

Lumbar StiffnessLow Back PainBack Lower PainLow Back Non-specific Pain
Point 1 of 2

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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 · 6 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240830-k0006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269282 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25

Low Back Acute PainLow Back Non-specific Pain
Point 1 of 2

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Cupping

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S544191 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269282 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

SP06 · BL23 · BL25 · BL40 · KD03

Low Back Chronic PainLow Back PainLow Back Non-specific Pain
Point 1 of 5

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s11302-026-10163-5 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25, BL40 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13457/j.cnki.jncm.2025.01.020 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25 · BL26 · BL54

Low Back PainChronic Nonspecific Low-back Pain
Point 1 of 4

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034407 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269282 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 8 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Laser3 of 8
  • Electroacupuncture3 of 8
  • Cupping2 of 8
  • Needling1 of 8

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 6 (middle half 5 to 8).

Course: the 5 studies that gave a length ran a median of 2 weeks (middle half 5 days to 2 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.