Acupuncture Points for Edema Lower Limb

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · ST36

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

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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · a 4-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11346 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.wjam.2019.08.008 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

SP06 · SP07 · SP09 · KD03 · KD07 · KD14

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

SP07Leaking Valley

SP07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 漏谷 (lòu gǔ)

🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths from tip of the medial malleolus on the line connecting tip of the medial malleolus and SP09 posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Swelling, Damp, Edema, Sadness & Depression

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

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

KD07Returning Flow

KD07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 復溜 (fù liū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths directly above the KD03 on the anterior border of the achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Fullness, Damp, Edema, Cough Pus

KD14Fourfold Fullness

KD14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四滿 (sì mǎn)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths below umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV05.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Pain, Absent Periods, Blood Stagnation, Uterine Prolapse, Urinary Problems

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1693269 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
Press Needles
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Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST25 · ST36 · ST37 · ST39 · CV04 · CV12

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

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

ST37Upper Great Hollow

ST37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上巨虛 (shàng jù xū)

🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Spleen Weakness, Stomach Weakness, Common Cold

ST39Lower Great Hollow

ST39 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下巨虛 (xià jù xū)

🎯 Location: 9 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Pain, Breast Abscess, Dysentery, Pharyngitis

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

CV12Stomach Centre

CV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中脘 (zhōng wǎn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the 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: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Common Cold, Depression

Study-reported

Needling + Moxibustion · 21 sessions over 3 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.wjam.2019.08.008 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11346 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Edema Lower Limb:

Points cited for Edema Lower Limb

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Edema Lower Limb. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 3
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 3
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • KD07Returning FlowKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • KD14Fourfold FullnessKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 3
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian1 of 3
  • SP07Leaking ValleySpleen Meridian1 of 3
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian1 of 3
  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian1 of 3
  • ST37Upper Great HollowStomach Meridian1 of 3

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.

  • Needling2 of 3
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 3
  • Moxibustion1 of 3

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.