Acupuncture Points for Eye Dryness

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (10 points)

100%

LU09 · LU10 · ST01 · SP03 · HT08 · BL02 · TB23 · GB14 · GB20 · GV23

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

LU10Fish Border

LU10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 魚際 (yú jì)

🎯 Location: On the radial aspect of the midpoint of the 1st metacarpal bone on the junction of the red and white skin of the hand.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Anxiety, Tongue Coating Yellow, Heat Deficiency

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

SP03Great White

SP03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太白 (tài bái)

🎯 Location: Proximal and inferior to the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Constipation, Heat, Vomiting

HT08Lesser Mansion

HT08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 少府 (shào fǔ)

🎯 Location: When palm faces upward, point is between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones; when fist is made point is where tip of the little finger rests.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Anxiety, Palpitations, Qi Deficiency, Common 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

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 · 9 sessions over 3 weeks

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1111/j.1755-3768.2010.02027.x ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST01, BL02, TB23, GB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000036864 ↗
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Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · ST02 · ST36 · BL02 · TB23 · GB37

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

ST02Four Direction Brightness

ST02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四白 (sì bái)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil in the depression the at the infraorbital foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with infraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Headache

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

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

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

Laser · 6 sessions

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1089/acm.2020.0524 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST02, ST36, BL02, TB23, GB37 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST01 · BL02 · TB23 · GB14

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

Study-reported

Press needles · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000036864 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST01, BL02, TB23, GB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1111/j.1755-3768.2010.02027.x ↗
Press Needles
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Protocol (14 points)

100%

LI04 · ST02 · ST07 · ST36 · BL02 · TB05 · TB23 · GB14 · GB20 · GB37 · LV03 · GV20 · GV24 · XH03

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

ST02Four Direction Brightness

ST02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四白 (sì bái)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil in the depression the at the infraorbital foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with infraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Headache

ST07Below The Arch

ST07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下關 (xià guān)

🎯 Location: On the face anterior to the ear in the depression the between zygomatic arch and mandibular notch; point is located with mouth closed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Swelling, Pain, Deafness, Deviation Eye

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

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

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

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

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

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

XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall

XH03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 印堂 (yìn táng)

🎯 Location: At the glabella, at the midpoint between the medial extremities of the eyebrows.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Dizziness, Wind, Facial Pain, Insomnia

Study-reported

Needling · 28 sessions over 4 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST02, ST36, BL02, TB23, GB37 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1089/acm.2020.0524 ↗
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Single-point entry

100%

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

Study-reported

Needling · 24 sessions over 8 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06486-4 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Points cited for Eye Dryness

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

  • BL02Gathered BambooBladder Meridian4 of 5
  • TB23Silken Bamboo HollowTriple Burner Meridian4 of 5
  • GB14Yang BrightGallbladder Meridian3 of 5
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian2 of 5
  • GB37Bright LightGallbladder Meridian2 of 5
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • ST01Tear ContainerStomach Meridian2 of 5
  • ST02Four Direction BrightnessStomach Meridian2 of 5
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 5
  • BL01Bright Eyes / Eye PointBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel1 of 5
  • GV23Upper StarGoverning Vessel1 of 5

Registered, results not reported

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

LU09 · LU10 · ST01 · SP03 · HT08 · BL02 · TB23 · GB04 · GB20 · GV23 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-112

BL01 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010924

ST01 · BL02 · TB23 · GB14 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000031468

How the studies delivered it

What the 5 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling3 of 5
  • Laser1 of 5
  • Press needles1 of 5

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 9 to 24).

Course: the 4 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 26 days to 5 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.