Acupuncture Points for Dysmenorrhea Primary

136 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

SP08 · SP10

SP08Earth'S Cure

SP08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地機 (dì jī)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below SP09 on the line connecting tip of the medial malleolus and SP09.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Blood Stagnation

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

Acupressure

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.33992/jgk.v15i2.2181 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP08, SP10 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗
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Protocol (2 points)

100%

CV04 · CV06

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

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 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.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Laser

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s10103-021-03490-z ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV04, CV06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jtcms.2025.09.006 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · SP08 · BL32 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06

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

SP08Earth'S Cure

SP08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地機 (dì jī)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below SP09 on the line connecting tip of the medial malleolus and SP09.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Blood Stagnation

BL32Second Bone Hole

BL32 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 次髎 (cì liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine just at the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Pain, Urinary Retention, Infertility, Sciatica

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

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

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 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.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.jtcms.2025.09.006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06, SP08, BL32, CV03, CV04, CV06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

SP06 · SP08 · 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

SP08Earth'S Cure

SP08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地機 (dì jī)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below SP09 on the line connecting tip of the medial malleolus and SP09.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Blood Stagnation

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

Needling · 1 session

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2015/385136 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, SP08, SP09 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.170989 ↗
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Protocol (2 points)

100%

CV08 · XC01

CV08Spirit Palace Gate

CV08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神闕 (shén què)

🎯 Location: In the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications; often use moxa only.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Rectal Prolapse, Edema, Cold Blood, Loss of Consciousness

XC01Child Palace (Uterus)

XC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Chest & Abdomen

🇨🇳 Chinese: 子宮 (zǐ gōng)

🎯 Location: On the abdomen, 3 thumb widths lateral to the midline, level with zongji ren-3.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Deficiency, Pain, Uterine Prolapse, Infertility, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 9 sessions

Did better than another treatment

Fu's subcutaneous needling near affected muscles (not acupoints) added to monkshood-cake moxibustion at the points; control arm is the moxibustion alone

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230919-k0002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV08 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06 · BL23 · GB34 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · GV20 · TF10

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

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

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

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

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

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 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.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Needling

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1159/000072730 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, BL23, GB34, CV03, CV04, CV06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗
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Women's Health
Period pain, hot flushes and milk supply. Three conditions, every point illustrated. – $5, free updates for life

Points cited for Dysmenorrhea Primary

How often each point appears across the 50 entries ranked highest for Dysmenorrhea Primary. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian29 of 50
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel25 of 50
  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian14 of 50
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel13 of 50
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian12 of 50
  • SP08Earth'S CureSpleen Meridian12 of 50
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel11 of 50
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian8 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian7 of 50
  • CV08Spirit Palace GateConception Vessel6 of 50
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian6 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian5 of 50

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Dysmenorrhea Primary and found no effect. They are not counted above.

SP06 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 – doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170952 – No better than another treatment

ST25 · ST29 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023798 – No better than another treatment

SP10 – doi:10.1089/acu.2021.0084 – No better than another treatment

SP06 · CV04 · CV08 – doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250623-k0004 – No better than another treatment

SP06 – doi:10.1155/2015/621490 – No better than another treatment

ST25 · ST29 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 · XC01 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023798 – No better than another treatment

SP06 · CV04 · CV08 – doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170952 – No better than another treatment

SP06 · CV04 – doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.04.006 – No better than another treatment

SP06 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

GB39 – doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-69

CYC08 · CYC11 · IN01 · TF08 · TF10 – doi:10.1155/2013/316212 – No better than another treatment

CV08 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment – Merged arms: capsaicin and menthol applications, each against the standard plaster at CV 8

ST36 – doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02872.x – No better than a waitlist

GB39 – doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0326 – No better than another treatment

XB08 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

XB08 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment – Single-point arm

SP06 · SP08 · BL32 · XB08 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment – Multi-point arm

SP06 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

SP06 – doi:10.1089/acu.2019.1362 – No better than another treatment – Perpendicular de qi and transverse non-de qi needling arms merged; neither beat the other

CYC08 · CYC11 · IAC03 · IN01 · TF08 · TF10 – doi:10.1155/2013/138537 – No change from baseline; no control group

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Dysmenorrhea Primary and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

SP06 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 – doi:10.1155/2014/434978

SP06 · CV04 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0552-1

SP06 – doi:10.1155/2015/238790

LI04 · SP06 · LV03 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-99

ST29 · SP04 · SP06 · SP08 · BL32 · CV03 – doi:10.2147/JPR.S537971

SP06 – doi:10.1155/2015/238790

SP06 · CV04 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0552-1

LI04 · ST29 · SP06 · SP08 · BL32 · LV03 · CV04 · CV06 · XC01 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078895

ST36 · ST41 · SP04 · SP06 · SP08 · LV03 – doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1644666

SP06 · SP08 · SP10 · BL26 · BL31 · BL32 · BL33 · BL34 · LV08 · CV04 · CV06 · GV04 · XB08 – europepmc.org

BL32 · CV04 · CV05 · CV08 · XC01 – doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2682-8 – Source prints Qihai as CV5; Qihai is CV 6

SP06 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000018847 – Perpendicular and transverse needling arms share this point; written once

SP06 · SP10 · CV04 · XC01 – doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04720-5

SP06 · CV04 – doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06675-1 – Acupuncture arm; a mild-moxibustion arm on the same points (CV 4, SP 6) is merged here

How the studies delivered it

What the 35 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling8 of 35
  • Moxibustion8 of 35
  • Acupressure5 of 35
  • Laser2 of 35
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 35
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 35
  • Herbal plaster on points1 of 35
  • Thread embedding1 of 35

Sessions: the 11 studies that gave a count ran a median of 9 (middle half 1 to 14).

Course: the 10 studies that gave a length ran a median of 10 weeks (middle half 1 day to 90 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.