Acupuncture Points for Hypertension

70 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Hypertension

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

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian31 of 50
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian23 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian21 of 50
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian19 of 50
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian17 of 50
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian17 of 50
  • ST09Man's PrognosisStomach Meridian10 of 50
  • GV26PhiltrumGoverning Vessel8 of 50
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian7 of 50
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian7 of 50
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel6 of 50
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel6 of 50

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

CV24 · GV26

Point 1 of 2

CV24Saliva Receptacle

CV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承漿 (chéng jiāng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the in the center of the mentolabial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Sweating, Depression, Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye

GV26Philtrum

GV26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 人中 (rén zhōng)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the upper ⅓ and middle ⅓ of the philtrum.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Jaundice, Depression, Wind, Chills

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/neh102 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV26 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1717706 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · ST36

Point 1 of 2

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/neh102 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, ST36 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-13-188 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · CV04

Point 1 of 2

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/neh102 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-13-188 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST32 · PC07 · PC08

Point 1 of 3

ST32Crouching Rabbit

ST32 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 伏兔 (fú tù)

🎯 Location: On the line connecting asis and lateral border of the patella 6 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Common Cold, Pain, Lower Back Pain, Channel Stagnation

PC07Great Mound

PC07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大陵 (dà líng)

🎯 Location: In the middle of the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Fever, Anxiety, Palpitations, Jaundice

PC08Palace Of Toil

PC08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 勞宮 (láo gōng)

🎯 Location: At the center of the palm between 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones but closer to the latter and in the part touching tip of the middle finger when fist is made.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Jaundice, Depression

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nel012 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. PC08 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/0300060520910052 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · PC06

Point 1 of 2

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

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

Study-reported

Needling · 16 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0508 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/808971 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI11 · ST36 · GB39 · CV04 · CV12

Point 1 of 5

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

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

GB39Suspended Bell

GB39 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 懸鐘 (xuán zhōng)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Anxiety, Knee Pain, Dizziness, Heat

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

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

Moxibustion · a 4-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-13-188 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, ST36, CV04, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-024-04158-0 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 40 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling22 of 40
  • Moxibustion4 of 40
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin3 of 40
  • Acupressure2 of 40
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 40
  • Laser1 of 40
  • Thread embedding1 of 40

Sessions: the 27 studies that gave a count ran a median of 24 (middle half 10 to 30).

Course: the 32 studies that gave a length ran a median of 53 days (middle half 4 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.