Acupuncture Points for Foot Pain

7 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST37 · GB34

ST37Upper Great Hollow

ST37 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

Study-reported

Needling · 8 sessions over 3 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.jams.2015.11.039 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB34 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/19336586261420070 ↗
Press Needles
16 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · ST36

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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:10.1177/19336586261420070 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

SP01 · SP02 · SP03 · SP06 · KD10 · LV01 · LV02 · LV03

SP01Hidden White

SP01 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 隱白 (yǐn bái)

🎯 Location: On the medial side of the great the toe 0.1 thumb width posterior to the corner of the nail.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Depression

SP02Great Capital

SP02 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大都 (dà dū)

🎯 Location: On the medial side of the great the toe distal and inferior to the 1st metatarsodigital joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Constipation, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

SP03Great White

SP03 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

KD10Yin Valley

KD10 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰谷 (yīn gǔ)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is on the medial side of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus at the level with BL40.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Depression, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Pain

LV01Big Mound

LV01 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大敦 (dà dūn)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the terminal phalanx of the great the toe 0.1 thumb width from corner of the nail.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Weakness, Constipation, Depression, Abdominal Bloating

LV02Passing Between

LV02 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 行間 (xíng jiān)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot between 1st and 2nd toe proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Coughing Blood

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7424 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/19336586261420070 ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · GB34 · LV03

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Laser · 6 sessions over 6 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1177/19336586261420070 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7424 ↗

Protocol (14 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST40 · TB05 · XL10A · XL10B · XL10C · XL10D · XL10E · XL10F · XL10G · XL10H · HCS02 · TF10

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

ST40Abundant Bulge

ST40 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 豐隆 (fēng lóng)

🎯 Location: 8 thumb widths superior to the tip of the external malleolus, lateral to the ST38 about 2 finger breadth (middle finger) lateral to the anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Asthma

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

XL10AEight Winds

XL10A acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10BEight Winds

XL10B acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10CEight Winds

XL10C acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10DEight Winds

XL10D acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10EEight Winds

XL10E acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10FEight Winds

XL10F acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10GEight Winds

XL10G acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10HEight Winds

XL10H acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-43.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

HCS02Ear Center

HCS02 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳中 (支點,零點,迷走神經點) (ěr zhōng ( zhī diǎn , líng diǎn , mí zǒu shén jīng diǎn ))

🎯 Location: At the lower edge of the middle area of the Helix Crus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diabetes, Liver And Gallbladder Diseases Such As Jaundice, Nocturia, Cardiovascular Disorders Such As Bradycardia

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Needling · 6 sessions over 6 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2011/920807 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11 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 ↗
Press Needles
84 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (5 points)

90%

BL23 · BL25 · BL40 · BL60 · GB30

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain

BL40Middle Of The Crease

BL40 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

BL60Kunlun (Mountains)

BL60 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 崑崙 (kūn lún)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ 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: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Heat, Chest Fullness, Abdominal Pain

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

CHEN Mei-ren, WANG Ping, CHENG Gang, GUO Xiang, WEI Gao-wen, CHENG Xu-hui. The Warming Acupuncture for Treatment of Sciatica in 30 Cases. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, March 2009, Vol. 29, No. 1: 50-53
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Points cited for Foot Pain

How often each point appears across the 7 entries ranked highest for Foot Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian3 of 7
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian3 of 7
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 7
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 7
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian2 of 7
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 7
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 7
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 7
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian1 of 7
  • BL60Kunlun (Mountains)Bladder Meridian1 of 7
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian1 of 7
  • HCS02Ear CenterAuricular Points1 of 7

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
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 5
  • Laser1 of 5

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 6 (middle half 6 to 7).

Course: the 4 studies that gave a length ran a median of 25 days (middle half 17 days to 32 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.