Acupuncture Points for Executive Function Impaired

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LU09 · ST08 · KD03 · GB13 · LV03 · GV20 · GV24

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

ST08Head Corner

ST08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頭維 (tóu wéi)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the head, 0.5 thumb widths above the anterior hairline at the corner of the forehead & 4.5 thumb widths lateral to the midline of the head.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Vomiting, Wind

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

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

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

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

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

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 10 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV20, GV24 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.clinsp.2025.100770 ↗
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Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST36 · HT09 · PC09 · GV20 · GV24

Point 1 of 5

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

HT09Lesser Surge

HT09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 少衝 (shào chōng)

🎯 Location: On the radial side of the little finger about 0.1 thumb width from corner of the nail.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

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

PC09Central Surge

PC09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中衝 (zhōng chōng)

🎯 Location: In the center of the tip of the middle finger.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Heat, Vomiting

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

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

Study-reported

Needling · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.clinsp.2025.100770 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV20, GV24 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 ↗
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Protocol (7 points)

100%

SP06 · HT07 · BL15 · BL23 · BL62 · KD06 · GV20

Point 1 of 7

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

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

BL15Heart Shu Point

BL15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心俞 (xīn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV11 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling – risk of pneumothorax. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Anxiety, Sweating, Coughing Blood

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

BL62Extending Vessel

BL62 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 申脈 (shēn mài)

🎯 Location: In the depression the directly below external malleolus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations

KD06Shining Sea

KD06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 照海 (zhào hǎi)

🎯 Location: In the depression the below tip of the medial malleolus.

⚠️ 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: Heat Deficiency, Dizziness, Constipation, Chest Fullness, 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

Study-reported

Needling · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230501-k0004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV20 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 ↗
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Points cited for Executive Function Impaired

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Executive Function Impaired. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel3 of 3
  • GV24Spirit CourtGoverning Vessel2 of 3
  • BL15Heart Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • BL62Extending VesselBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • GB13Spirit RootGallbladder Meridian1 of 3
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian1 of 3
  • HT09Lesser SurgeHeart Meridian1 of 3
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • KD06Shining SeaKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • LU09Great SourceLung Meridian1 of 3
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 3

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Executive Function Impaired and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

LI04 · SP06 · BL13 · BL17 · BL19 · KD01 · LV03 · CV06 · CV12 · CV15 · GV20 · GV24 · XH03 · CVC01 · CYC08 · CYC11 – doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.833696 – Alternates with 1 other formula across sessions in this trial

LI04 · SP06 · BL42 · BL46 · BL48 · KD01 · LV03 · CV06 · CV12 · CV15 · GV20 · GV24 · XH03 – doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.833696 – Alternates with 1 other formula across sessions in this trial

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.

  • Needling3 of 3
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 3

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 20 (middle half 15 to 22).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 4 weeks to 7 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.