Acupuncture Points for Fatigue Physical

6 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Fatigue Physical

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

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian4 of 6
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 6
  • BL13Lung Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 6
  • BL15Heart Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 6
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 6
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 6
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel2 of 6
  • BL07Reaching HeavenBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 6
  • GV19Behind The VertexGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • GV21Before The VertexGoverning Vessel1 of 6

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23 · BL40 · CV04

Point 1 of 4

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

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

BL40Middle Of The Crease

BL40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)

🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain

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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2015/508302 ↗
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:10.1097/MD.0000000000015659 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST36 · BL07 · PC06 · GV19 · GV20 · GV21

Point 1 of 6

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

BL07Reaching Heaven

BL07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 通天 (tōng tiān)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline and 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the midline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Facial Droop, Goiter, Loss of Consciousness, Nasal Congestion

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

GV19Behind The Vertex

GV19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 後頂 (hòu dǐng)

🎯 Location: 5.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline 1.5 thumb widths directly above the GV18.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Sweating, Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Aversion Cold

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

GV21Before The Vertex

GV21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 前頂 (qián dǐng)

🎯 Location: 3.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline 1.5 thumb widths anterior to the GV20.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Convulsions, Wind, Pain, Aversion Cold, Edema

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015659 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S405977 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · HT07 · LV03 · GV20 · XH03

Point 1 of 7

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

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

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

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

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 · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/IJGM.S405977 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, GV20 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.0000000000015659 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

90%

BL13 · BL15 · BL18 · BL20 · BL23

Point 1 of 5

BL13Lung Shu Point

BL13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺俞 (fèi shū)

🎯 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

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

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

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

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Unnamed CNKI record, 2018
Substantiated by a study. BL23 also appears in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1155/2015/508302 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

90%

BL13 · BL15 · BL18 · BL20 · BL23

Point 1 of 5

BL13Lung Shu Point

BL13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺俞 (fèi shū)

🎯 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

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

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

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

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

陈三三刘然吴彬陈晟郭昉薛晓琳王军. 针刺五脏背俞穴治疗慢性疲劳综合征:随机对照试验(英文) OA. World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion ., 2018 [CNKI]
Substantiated by a study. BL23 also appears in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1155/2015/508302 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

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

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1002/brb3.3575 ↗
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:10.1155/2015/508302 ↗
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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.

  • Needling4 of 4

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 1 (middle half 1 to 11).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 1 day (middle half 1 day to 15 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.