Acupuncture Points for Dry Eye Syndrome

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Dry Eye Syndrome:

Points cited for Dry Eye Syndrome

How often each point appears across the 5 entries ranked highest for Dry Eye Syndrome. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL01Bright Eyes / Eye PointBladder Meridian3 of 5
  • BL02Gathered BambooBladder Meridian3 of 5
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian3 of 5
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 5
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian3 of 5
  • ST01Tear ContainerStomach Meridian3 of 5
  • GB37Bright LightGallbladder Meridian2 of 5
  • GV24Spirit CourtGoverning Vessel2 of 5
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian2 of 5
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 5
  • TB23Silken Bamboo HollowTriple Burner Meridian2 of 5
  • GB01Pupil CreviceGallbladder Meridian1 of 5

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST01 · BL02 · TB23 · GB14 · GB20 · GV23

Point 1 of 8

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ 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: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

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

ST01Tear Container

ST01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承泣 (chéng qì)

🎯 Location: With eyes looking straight forward, point is directly below pupil between eyeball and infraorbital ridge.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat, Wind, Redness

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

TB23Silken Bamboo Hollow

TB23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 絲竹空 (sī zhú kōng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the at the lateral end of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near eye.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Aversion Cold, Deviation Eye

GB14Yang Bright

GB14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽白 (yáng bái)

🎯 Location: On the forehead directly above the pupil, 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Chills, Deviation Eye

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

GV23Upper Star

GV23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上星 (shàng xīng)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Depression, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Malaria

Study-reported

Needling · a 4-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036638 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST01, BL02, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.09.008 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

SP06 · BL01 · KD03

Point 1 of 3

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

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18226 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, BL01 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.09.008 ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

HT07 · KD03 · GB01 · GB13 · GB20 · GB37 · LV03 · GV24 · XH04

Point 1 of 9

HT07Spirit Gate

HT07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Palpitations, Common Cold, Heat

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

GB01Pupil Crevice

GB01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 瞳子髎 (tóng zǐ liáo)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the outer canthus in the depression on the lateral side of the orbit.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Deviation Eye

GB13Spirit Root

GB13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 本神 (běn shén)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths within the hairline of the forehead 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV24.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Phlegm, Wind, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop

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

GB37Bright Light

GB37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 光明 (guāng míng)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths directly above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Heat, Numbness, Pain, Breast Pain

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

GV24Spirit Court

GV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神庭 (shén tíng)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Palpitations, Depression

XH04Fish Waist

XH04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 魚腰 (yú yāo)

🎯 Location: In the centre of the eyebrow, in the depression the directly above the pupil when the eyes are looking straight forward.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Redness, Swelling, Pain, Eye Pain, Benefit Eyes

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 12 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20201108-k0005 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB20, GB37 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.09.008 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · ST01 · ST36 · SP06 · BL01 · BL02 · GB20 · GB37

Point 1 of 8

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ 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: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST01Tear Container

ST01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承泣 (chéng qì)

🎯 Location: With eyes looking straight forward, point is directly below pupil between eyeball and infraorbital ridge.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat, Wind, Redness

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

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

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

GB37Bright Light

GB37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 光明 (guāng míng)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths directly above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Heat, Numbness, Pain, Breast Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 30 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.09.008 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST01, BL02, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036638 ↗

Protocol (9 points)

90%

LI04 · ST01 · SP06 · SP09 · BL01 · BL02 · TB23 · LV03 · GV24

Point 1 of 9

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ 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: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST01Tear Container

ST01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承泣 (chéng qì)

🎯 Location: With eyes looking straight forward, point is directly below pupil between eyeball and infraorbital ridge.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat, Wind, Redness

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

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

TB23Silken Bamboo Hollow

TB23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 絲竹空 (sī zhú kōng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the at the lateral end of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near eye.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Aversion Cold, Deviation Eye

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

GV24Spirit Court

GV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神庭 (shén tíng)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Palpitations, Depression

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

齐雪阳孙婧赵新邵文静张风梅. 针刺联合穴位按摩对干眼症的影响. 中医研究 ., 2024 [CNKI]
Substantiated by a study. LI04, ST01, SP06, BL01, BL02 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.09.008 ↗
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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.

  • Needling4 of 4
  • Electroacupuncture1 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.