Acupuncture Points for Deep Venous Thrombosis Prevention

8 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

SP06 · SP09

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60123-5 ↗
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.0255-2930.20191204-k0007 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · LV03

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

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

Electrical stimulation on the skin

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60123-5 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 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.0255-2930.20191204-k0007 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · SP10

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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 血海 (xuè hǎi)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the mediosuperior border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of the quadriceps femoris.

⚠️ 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: Knee Pain, Absent Periods, Blood Stagnation, Pain, Hives

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 10 sessions over 5 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20191204-k0007 ↗
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:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60123-5 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LU03 · LI11 · SP10 · HT01

LU03Celestial Storehouse

LU03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天府 (tiān fǔ)

🎯 Location: On the medial aspect of the upper arm 3 thumb widths below end of the axillary fold on the radial side of the biceps. brachii.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; caution near brachial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Dizziness, Coughing Blood

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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 血海 (xuè hǎi)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the mediosuperior border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of the quadriceps femoris.

⚠️ 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: Knee Pain, Absent Periods, Blood Stagnation, Pain, Hives

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

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 15 sessions over 3 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210819-k0002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP10 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.0255-2930.20191204-k0007 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST32 · ST33 · ST34 · ST36 · ST37

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

ST33Yin Market

ST33 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰市 (yīn shì)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 3 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella on the line joining asis and laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Thigh Pain

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 梁丘 (liáng qiū)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Wind, Numbness, Leg Pain, Pain

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

ST37Upper Great Hollow

ST37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上巨虛 (shàng jù xū)

🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Spleen Weakness, Stomach Weakness, Common Cold

Study-reported

Acupressure

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 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(13)60123-5 ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

90%

ST36 · LV03

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

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

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Hou LL, Chen CP, Xu L, Yin PH, Peng W. Electrical stimulation of acupoint combinations against deep venous thrombosis in elderly bedridden patients after major surgery. J Tradit Chin Med 2013; 33(2): 187-193
Substantiated by a study. ST36, LV03 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60123-5 ↗
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Deep Venous Thrombosis Prevention:

Points cited for Deep Venous Thrombosis Prevention

How often each point appears across the 8 entries ranked highest for Deep Venous Thrombosis Prevention. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian5 of 8
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian4 of 8
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian3 of 8
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian3 of 8
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian2 of 8
  • HT01Highest SpringHeart Meridian1 of 8
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 8
  • LU03Celestial StorehouseLung Meridian1 of 8
  • ST32Crouching RabbitStomach Meridian1 of 8
  • ST33Yin MarketStomach Meridian1 of 8
  • ST34Ridge MoundStomach Meridian1 of 8
  • ST37Upper Great HollowStomach Meridian1 of 8

How the studies delivered it

What the 4 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 4
  • Moxibustion1 of 4
  • Acupressure1 of 4

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

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