Acupuncture Points for Dyspnea

57 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Dyspnea

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

  • BL13Lung Shu PointBladder Meridian26 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian20 of 50
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian18 of 50
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian15 of 50
  • LU01Central MansionLung Meridian14 of 50
  • CV17Chest CentreConception Vessel12 of 50
  • LU09Great SourceLung Meridian12 of 50
  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel10 of 50
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian10 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian10 of 50
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian10 of 50
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel9 of 50

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL13 · BL17

Point 1 of 2

BL13Lung Shu Point

BL13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺俞 (fèi yú)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Asthma

Study-reported

Moxibustion · a 90-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-11-121 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL13, BL17 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.27253/d.cnki.gnjzu.2025.000657 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LU09 · LU10 · LI04 · LI20 · SP03 · HT08 · GV23

Point 1 of 7

LU09Great Source

LU09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太淵 (tài yuān)

🎯 Location: At the radial end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias; avoid excessive stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Coughing Blood, Common Cold

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nep240 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LU09, LU10, SP03, HT08 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/506317 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · ST08 · SI06 · BL60 · GB08 · GV20

Point 1 of 6

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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2013/219817 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, GB08, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1089/acu.2021.0086 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST34 · ST44 · SP10 · KD03 · PC06 · LV02

Point 1 of 6

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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2013/219817 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP10, KD03, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1089/acu.2021.0086 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LU01 · LU10 · LI04 · ST36 · PC06

Point 1 of 5

LU01Central Mansion

LU01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中府 (zhōng fǔ)

🎯 Location: Laterosuperior to the sternum 1 thumb width below LU02 at the level of the 1st intercostal space 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle obliquely or laterally, never deeply or medially – risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath

Study-reported

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2013/723128 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LU01, LI04, ST36, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/1534735420908327 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LU09 · LU10 · SP03 · HT08

Point 1 of 4

LU09Great Source

LU09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太淵 (tài yuān)

🎯 Location: At the radial end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias; avoid excessive stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Coughing Blood, Common Cold

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 5 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2013/506317 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LU09, LU10, SP03, HT08 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep240 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 39 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling14 of 39
  • Acupressure7 of 39
  • Moxibustion6 of 39
  • Electroacupuncture5 of 39
  • Herbal plaster on points2 of 39
  • Thread embedding2 of 39
  • Press needles1 of 39

Sessions: the 17 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 7 to 20).

Course: the 20 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 2 weeks to 9 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.