Acupuncture Points for Diaphragm Dysfunction

4 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Diaphragm Dysfunction

How often each point appears across the 4 entries ranked highest for Diaphragm Dysfunction. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian2 of 4
  • GV26PhiltrumGoverning Vessel2 of 4
  • HT01Highest SpringHeart Meridian2 of 4
  • LU05Cubit MarshLung Meridian2 of 4
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian2 of 4
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian2 of 4
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • CV15Turtledove TailConception Vessel1 of 4
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian1 of 4
  • LI17Celestial TripodLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 4
  • LV13Bright GateLiver Meridian1 of 4

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LU05 · SP06 · HT01 · BL40 · PC06 · GV26

Point 1 of 6

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

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

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

BL40Middle Of The Crease

BL40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)

🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain

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: 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

Needling · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190408-0005 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (11 points)

100%

LU05 · LI17 · SP06 · HT01 · BL40 · PC06 · GB20 · GV26 · XB02C3 · XB02C4 · XB02C5

Point 1 of 11

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

LI17Celestial Tripod

LI17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天鼎 (tiān dǐng)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the neck at the posterior border of the scm muscle beside laryngeal protuberance at the midpoint of the line connecting LI18 and ST12.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near carotid artery and jugular vein.

🛡️ Treats: Goiter, Breathing Problems, Pharyngitis, Benefit Digestion, Voice Loss

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

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

BL40Middle Of The Crease

BL40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)

🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain

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

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

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

XB02C3Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C3

XB02C3 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the third cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02C4Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C4

XB02C4 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fourth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02C5Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C5

XB02C5 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fifth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190408-0005 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (4 points)

100%

SP21 · BL20 · BL23 · LV13

Point 1 of 4

SP21Great Embrace

SP21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大包 (dà bāo)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the chest on the middle axillary line in the 6th intercostal space.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Pain, Rib Pain

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 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

LV13Bright Gate

LV13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 章門 (zhāng mén)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the abdomen below free end of the 11th rib.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; caution with spleen.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 21 sessions over 7 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.09.001 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Single-point entry

100%

CV15Turtledove Tail

CV15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 鳩尾 (jiū wěi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1 thumb width below xiphoid process, locate point with patient supine with arms raised.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution; proximity to xiphoid process.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Coughing Blood, Palpitations

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240659 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling1 of 3
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 3
  • Moxibustion1 of 3

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 21 (middle half 21 to 23).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 18 days to 4 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.