Acupuncture Points for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

7 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LU02 · LI05 · HT01 · SI10 · SI11 · GB21

LU02Cloud Gate

LU02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 雲門 (yún mén)

🎯 Location: In the superior lateral part of the anterior thoracic wall superior to the coracoid process of the scapula in the depression of the infraclavicular fossa 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling due to proximity to lungs and blood vessels; contraindicated in hemoptysis.

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

LI05Yang Stream

LI05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽谿 (yáng xī)

🎯 Location: On the radial side of the wrist; when thumb is tilted upward it is in the depression the between tendons of the extensor pollicus longus and brevis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat

HT01Highest Spring

HT01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 極泉 (jí quán)

🎯 Location: When upper arm is abducted point is in the center of the axilla on the medial side of the axillary artery.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for needling; proximity to axillary artery.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Anxiety, Palpitations, Elbow Pain, Retching

SI10Upper Arm Shu Point

SI10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臑俞 (nào shū)

🎯 Location: When arm is adducted, point is directly above the posterior end of the axillary fold in the depression the inferior to the scapular spine.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Chills, Arm Pain

SI11Heavenly Gathering

SI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天宗 (tiān zōng)

🎯 Location: On the scapula in the depression of the center of the subscapular fossa and at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Qi Stagnation, Chest Fullness, Elbow Pain, Shoulder Blade Pain

GB21Shoulder Well

GB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩井 (jiān jǐng)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax. 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: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Kidney Deficiency, Depression

Study-reported

Point injection · 1 session

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.jams.2014.03.004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI05 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3390/children8121187 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI05 · SI04 · TB04 · TB05

LI05Yang Stream

LI05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽谿 (yáng xī)

🎯 Location: On the radial side of the wrist; when thumb is tilted upward it is in the depression the between tendons of the extensor pollicus longus and brevis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat

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

TB04Yang Pool

TB04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽池 (yáng chí)

🎯 Location: On the transverse crease of the dorsum of the wrist in the depression the lateral to the tendon of the extensor digitorum communis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Chest Fullness, Swelling, Shoulder Pain, Pain

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

Study-reported

Needling · 2 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3390/children8121187 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI05 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jams.2014.03.004 ↗
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Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST24 · KD17 · CV04 · CV12 · CV16 · CV17

ST24Slippery Flesh Gate

ST24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 滑肉門 (huá ròu mén)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width above the umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV09.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Phlegm, Depression, Vomiting, Upper Stomach Pain, Vomiting Blood

KD17Shang Bend

KD17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 商曲 (shāng qū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV10.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Pain

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

CV16Central Court

CV16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中庭 (zhōng tíng)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline at the level with 5th intercostal space on the xiphoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Common Cold, Chest Fullness, Benefit Digestion, Pain Around Navel, Costal Lateral Fullness

CV17Chest Centre

CV17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膻中 (dàn zhōng)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline at the level with 4th intercostal space, midway between nipples.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – needle transversely along the sternum. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Needling · 8 sessions over 60 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3390/children8121187 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Protocol (8 points)

100%

SP01 · SP02 · SP03 · SP06 · KD10 · LV01 · LV02 · LV03

SP01Hidden White

SP01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 隱白 (yǐn bái)

🎯 Location: On the medial side of the great the toe 0.1 thumb width posterior to the corner of the nail.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Depression

SP02Great Capital

SP02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大都 (dà dū)

🎯 Location: On the medial side of the great the toe distal and inferior to the 1st metatarsodigital joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

SP03Great White

SP03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太白 (tài bái)

🎯 Location: Proximal and inferior to the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Constipation, Heat, Vomiting

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

KD10Yin Valley

KD10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰谷 (yīn gǔ)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is on the medial side of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus at the level with BL40.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Depression, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Pain

LV01Big Mound

LV01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大敦 (dà dūn)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the terminal phalanx of the great the toe 0.1 thumb width from corner of the nail.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Weakness, Constipation, Depression, Abdominal Bloating

LV02Passing Between

LV02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 行間 (xíng jiān)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot between 1st and 2nd toe proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Coughing Blood

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7424 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06 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.0255-2930.2019.12.002 ↗
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Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST24 · KD17 · CV04 · CV12 · CV16 · CV17

ST24Slippery Flesh Gate

ST24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 滑肉門 (huá ròu mén)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width above the umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV09.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Phlegm, Depression, Vomiting, Upper Stomach Pain, Vomiting Blood

KD17Shang Bend

KD17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 商曲 (shāng qū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV10.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Pain

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

CV16Central Court

CV16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中庭 (zhōng tíng)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline at the level with 5th intercostal space on the xiphoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Common Cold, Chest Fullness, Benefit Digestion, Pain Around Navel, Costal Lateral Fullness

CV17Chest Centre

CV17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膻中 (dàn zhōng)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline at the level with 4th intercostal space, midway between nipples.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – needle transversely along the sternum. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Needling · 8 sessions over 60 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3390/children8121187 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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48 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (3 points)

100%

SP06 · PC06 · GV26

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

GV26Philtrum

GV26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水溝 (shuǐ gōu)

🎯 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

Needling · 18 sessions over 3 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.12.002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7424 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Complex Regional Pain Syndrome:

Points cited for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

How often each point appears across the 7 entries ranked highest for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel2 of 7
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel2 of 7
  • CV16Central CourtConception Vessel2 of 7
  • CV17Chest CentreConception Vessel2 of 7
  • KD17Shang BendKidney Meridian2 of 7
  • LI05Yang StreamLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 7
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian2 of 7
  • ST24Slippery Flesh GateStomach Meridian2 of 7
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian1 of 7
  • GB43Narrow StreamGallbladder Meridian1 of 7
  • GV26PhiltrumGoverning Vessel1 of 7
  • HT01Highest SpringHeart Meridian1 of 7

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

LU09 · LI06 · ST42 · SP04 · HT07 · SI07 · BL64 · KD04 · PC07 · TB05 · GB40 · LV05 – doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1702965

How the studies delivered it

What the 5 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling3 of 5
  • Point injection2 of 5

Sessions: the 4 studies that gave a count ran a median of 8 (middle half 2 to 15).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 3 weeks (middle half 11 days to 60 days).

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

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