# Acupoints for Depression Major

14 sourced protocols for Depression Major. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/depression-major

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ST08 (Head Corner), GB08 (Leading Valley), GB15 (Head Governor Of Tears), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029651 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | ST24 (Slippery Flesh Gate), KD17 (Shang Bend), CV04 (Original Qi Gate), CV06 (Sea Of Qi), CV10 (Lower Stomach), CV12 (Stomach Centre) | – | – | doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2016.07.011 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | LI04 (Junction Valley), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), HT07 (Spirit Gate), PC06 (Inner Gate), LV03 (Great Surge), CV04 (Original Qi Gate), CV06 (Sea Of Qi), CV12 (Stomach Centre), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.2147/JIR.S436907 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), PC06 (Inner Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV14 (Great Vertebra), GV16 (Wind Mansion), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.2147/NDT.S446034 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), HT07 (Spirit Gate), PC06 (Inner Gate), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | doi:10.1038/s41386-024-02036-5 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST08 (Head Corner), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), BL13 (Lung Shu Point), BL17 (Diaphragm Shu Point), BL19 (Gallbladder Shu Point), BL42 (Door Of The Corporeal Soul), BL46 (Diaphragm Gate), BL48 (Yang Headrope), KD01 (Bubbling Spring), LV03 (Great Surge), CV06 (Sea Of Qi), CV12 (Stomach Centre), CV15 (Turtledove Tail), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.761419 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), PC06 (Inner Gate), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.2147/ndt.s405728 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 8 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), HT07 (Spirit Gate), PC06 (Inner Gate), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1698773 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 9 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), HT07 (Spirit Gate), PC06 (Inner Gate), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | doi:10.1038/s41386-024-02036-5 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 10 | LU09 (Great Source), ST08 (Head Corner), KD03 (Great Stream), GB13 (Spirit Root), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), GV24 (Spirit Court), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness) | – | – | doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 11 | GV20 (100 Convergences), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2022.03.002 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 12 | ST36 (Leg Three Miles), BL25 (Large Intestine Shu Point), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1376680 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 13 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), PC06 (Inner Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV14 (Great Vertebra), GV16 (Wind Mansion), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.2147/NDT.S446034 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 14 | LU09 (Great Source), ST08 (Head Corner), KD03 (Great Stream), GB13 (Spirit Root), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), GV24 (Spirit Court), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness) | – | – | doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST08 | Head Corner | Stomach Meridian | On the lateral side of the head, 0.5 thumb widths above the anterior hairline at the corner of the forehead & 4.5 thumb widths lateral to the midline of the head. |
| GB08 | Leading Valley | Gallbladder Meridian | Superior to the apex of the auricle 1.5 thumb widths within the hairline. |
| GB15 | Head Governor Of Tears | Gallbladder Meridian | On the head directly above the pupil and 0.5 thumb widths above the anterior hairline at the midpoint of the line connecting GV24 and ST08. |
| GV20 | 100 Convergences | Governing Vessel | On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears. |
| ST24 | Slippery Flesh Gate | Stomach Meridian | 1 thumb width above the umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV09. |
| KD17 | Shang Bend | Kidney Meridian | 2 thumb widths above the umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV10. |
| CV04 | Original Qi Gate | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| CV06 | Sea Of Qi | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 1.5 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| CV10 | Lower Stomach | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 2 thumb widths above the umbilicus. |
| CV12 | Stomach Centre | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the umbilicus. |
| LI04 | Junction Valley | Large Intestine Meridian | On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. |
| SP06 | Three Yin Intersection | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia. |
| HT07 | Spirit Gate | Heart Meridian | At the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris. |
| PC06 | Inner Gate | Pericardium Meridian | 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. |
| LV03 | Great Surge | Liver Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. |
| GB20 | Wind Pool | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16. |
| GV14 | Great Vertebra | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders. |
| GV16 | Wind Mansion | Governing Vessel | 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline directly below external occipital protuberance in the depression the between trapezius of the both sides. |
| BL13 | Lung Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra. |
| BL17 | Diaphragm Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra. |
| BL19 | Gallbladder Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV07 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra. |
| BL42 | Door Of The Corporeal Soul | Bladder Meridian | 3 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra on the spinal border of the scapula. |
| BL46 | Diaphragm Gate | Bladder Meridian | 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra approximately at the level of the inferior angle of the scapula. |
| BL48 | Yang Headrope | Bladder Meridian | 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV07 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra. |
| KD01 | Bubbling Spring | Kidney Meridian | On the sole in the depression the when foot is in the plantar flexion the approximately at the junction of the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the line connecting base of the 2nd and 3rd toes and heel. |
| CV15 | Turtledove Tail | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 1 thumb width below xiphoid process, locate point with patient supine with arms raised. |
| XH03 | Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall | Extra Points: Head | At the glabella, at the midpoint between the medial extremities of the eyebrows. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| LU09 | Great Source | Lung Meridian | At the radial end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery. |
| KD03 | Great Stream | Kidney Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| GB13 | Spirit Root | Gallbladder Meridian | 0.5 thumb widths within the hairline of the forehead 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV24. |
| GV24 | Spirit Court | Governing Vessel | 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline. |
| XH01A | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| XH01B | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| XH01C | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| XH01D | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| BL25 | Large Intestine Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra. |

---

AcuiQ-authored prose (symptom and meridian descriptions, the wiki, the auricular crosswalk) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The assembled protocol compilation is not: build on it with attribution, but do not redistribute it whole as a dataset – https://acuiq.com/terms. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms
