Acupuncture Points for Facial Numbness

6 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (10 points)

100%

LI20 · ST02 · ST04 · ST06 · ST07 · SI18 · BL02 · TB17 · GB14 · CV24

LI20Receiving Fragrance

LI20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 迎香 (yíng xiāng)

🎯 Location: In the nasolabial groove at the level of the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; proximity to facial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Heat, Wind, Numbness

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

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

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

SI18Cheek Bone Hole

SI18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 顴髎 (quán liáo)

🎯 Location: Directly below outer canthus in the depression on the lower border of the zygoma.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Leg Pain

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

TB17Hurricane

TB17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 翳風 (yì fēng)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the lobule of the ear in the depression the between mandible and mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near facial nerve.

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

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

CV24Saliva Receptacle

CV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承漿 (chéng jiāng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the in the center of the mentolabial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Sweating, Depression, Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/5419407 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST04, SI18, BL02 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.0000000000045454 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST04 · SI18 · BL02 · TB23 · GB20

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

SI18Cheek Bone Hole

SI18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 顴髎 (quán liáo)

🎯 Location: Directly below outer canthus in the depression on the lower border of the zygoma.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Leg Pain

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

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

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 3 sessions over 3 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045454 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST04, SI18, BL02 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/5419407 ↗
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Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST04 · ST05 · ST06 · CV24

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

ST05Great Reception

ST05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大迎 (dà yíng)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the angle of the mandible on the anterior border of the attached portion of the masseter where pulsation of the facial artery is palpable in the groovelike depression the appearing when cheek is bulged.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve and artery.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Wind, Swelling, Chills, Aversion Cold

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

CV24Saliva Receptacle

CV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承漿 (chéng jiāng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the in the center of the mentolabial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Sweating, Depression, Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye

Study-reported

Laser · 20 sessions over 10 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s10103-023-03754-w ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST04, ST06, CV24 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/5419407 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

ST04 · SI18 · BL02 · TB23 · GB20 · XH05 · XH08

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

SI18Cheek Bone Hole

SI18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 顴髎 (quán liáo)

🎯 Location: Directly below outer canthus in the depression on the lower border of the zygoma.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Leg Pain

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

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

XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)

XH05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太陽 (tài yáng)

🎯 Location: At the temple, in the tender depression the approximately 1 thumb width posterior to the midpoint between the lateral extremity of the eyebrow & the outer canthus of the eye.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Pain

XH08Nose Passage

XH08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 鼻通 / 上迎香 (bí tōng / shàng yíng xiāng)

🎯 Location: At the highest point of the naso-labial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Nasal Congestion, Nosebleed, Nasal Discharge, Polyp Nasal, Rhinitis

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 3 sessions over 3 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045454 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST04, SI18, BL02 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/5419407 ↗
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21 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (7 points)

100%

ST04 · SI18 · BL02 · TB23 · GB20 · XH05 · XH08

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

SI18Cheek Bone Hole

SI18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 顴髎 (quán liáo)

🎯 Location: Directly below outer canthus in the depression on the lower border of the zygoma.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Leg Pain

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

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

XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)

XH05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太陽 (tài yáng)

🎯 Location: At the temple, in the tender depression the approximately 1 thumb width posterior to the midpoint between the lateral extremity of the eyebrow & the outer canthus of the eye.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Pain

XH08Nose Passage

XH08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 鼻通 / 上迎香 (bí tōng / shàng yíng xiāng)

🎯 Location: At the highest point of the naso-labial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Nasal Congestion, Nosebleed, Nasal Discharge, Polyp Nasal, Rhinitis

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 3 sessions over 3 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045454 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST04, SI18, BL02 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/5419407 ↗
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21 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · LI20 · ST04 · ST36 · BL67 · GB20 · GV25 · XH05

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

LI20Receiving Fragrance

LI20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 迎香 (yíng xiāng)

🎯 Location: In the nasolabial groove at the level of the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; proximity to facial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Heat, Wind, Numbness

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

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

BL67Reaching Yin

BL67 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 至陰 (zhì yīn)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the small toe about 0.1 thumb width from corner of the nail.

⚠️ 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: Chest Pain, Tinnitus, Deafness, Labour Prolonged, Labour Delayed

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

GV25White Crevice

GV25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 素髎 (sù liáo)

🎯 Location: On the tip of the nose.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Nosebleed, Polyp Nasal, Rhinitis, Benefit Nose

XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)

XH05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太陽 (tài yáng)

🎯 Location: At the temple, in the tender depression the approximately 1 thumb width posterior to the midpoint between the lateral extremity of the eyebrow & the outer canthus of the eye.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 18 sessions over 5 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016756 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST04, GB20, XH05 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.0000000000045454 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Facial Numbness:

Points cited for Facial Numbness

How often each point appears across the 6 entries ranked highest for Facial Numbness. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST04Earth GranaryStomach Meridian6 of 6
  • BL02Gathered BambooBladder Meridian4 of 6
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian4 of 6
  • SI18Cheek Bone HoleSmall Intestine Meridian4 of 6
  • TB23Silken Bamboo HollowTriple Burner Meridian3 of 6
  • XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)Extra Points: Head3 of 6
  • CV24Saliva ReceptacleConception Vessel2 of 6
  • LI20Receiving FragranceLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 6
  • ST06Jaw BoneStomach Meridian2 of 6
  • XH08Nose PassageExtra Points: Head2 of 6
  • BL67Reaching YinBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • GB14Yang BrightGallbladder Meridian1 of 6

How the studies delivered it

What the 4 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling2 of 4
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 4
  • Laser1 of 4

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 18 (middle half 11 to 19).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 5 weeks (middle half 19 days to 53 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.