Acupuncture Points for Gastrointestinal Pain

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Gastrointestinal Pain:

Points cited for Gastrointestinal Pain

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Gastrointestinal Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 3
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian3 of 3
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel2 of 3
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 3
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian2 of 3
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian1 of 3
  • GB43Narrow StreamGallbladder Meridian1 of 3
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian1 of 3
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • KD06Shining SeaKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 3
  • LV02Passing BetweenLiver Meridian1 of 3

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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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

Study-reported

Needling · 4 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1136/acupmed-2016-011208 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1002/art.41620 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · SP06 · GB34 · LV03 · GV20

Point 1 of 7

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

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1002/art.41620 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2016-011208 ↗

Protocol (11 points)

90%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · HT07 · KD03 · KD06 · PC06 · GB43 · LV02 · LV03 · GV20

Point 1 of 11

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

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

DUAN Dong-mei, TU Ya, CHEN Li-ping, WU Zheng-jun. Efficacy Evaluation for Depression with Somatic Symptoms Treated by Electroacupuncture Combined with Fluoxetine. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2009, 29(3): 167-170
Substantiated by a study. LI04, ST36, SP06, LV03, GV20 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1002/art.41620 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 2 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling2 of 2
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 2

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.