# Acupoints for Head Pain

15 sourced protocols for Head Pain. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/head-pain

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST08 (Head Corner), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST40 (Abundant Bulge), ST44 (Inner Court), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), BL02 (Gathered Bamboo), BL10 (Celestial Pillar), BL11 (Great Shuttle), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB02 (Hearing Convergence), GB08 (Leading Valley), GB14 (Yang Bright), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), LV02 (Passing Between), LV03 (Great Surge), GV18 (Unyielding Space), GV23 (Upper Star) | – | – | doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | TB05 (Outer Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-123 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST29 (Return), ST44 (Inner Court), SI03 (Back Stream), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), KD12 (Great Manifestation), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), TB20 (Angle Vertex), GB08 (Leading Valley), GB13 (Spirit Root), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), GB40 (Mound), LV03 (Great Surge), CV03 (Central Pivot), GV20 (100 Convergences), GV24 (Spirit Court) | – | – | doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-374 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | TB08 (Three Yang Connection), TB19 (Skull Rest), GB33 (Yang Knee Gate) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s12967-014-0351-6 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | LI04 (Junction Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2021/5567697 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | LI04 (Junction Valley), BL02 (Gathered Bamboo), GB08 (Leading Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04617-9 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | LI04 (Junction Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV16 (Wind Mansion), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.55454 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 8 | LI04 (Junction Valley), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears) | – | – | doi:10.1177/2164956119870444 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 9 | LI04 (Junction Valley), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness) | – | – | doi:10.1007/s10103-026-04877-6 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 10 | SI03 (Back Stream), BL09 (Jade Pillow), BL10 (Celestial Pillar), GB12 (Mastoid Process), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV16 (Wind Mansion) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230828-k0008 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 11 | LI04 (Junction Valley), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), GB08 (Leading Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20241227-0001 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 12 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102019 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 13 | LI04 (Junction Valley), BL18 (Liver Shu Point), TB23 (Silken Bamboo Hollow), GB08 (Leading Valley), LV03 (Great Surge), LV14 (Qi Cycle Gate) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20211203-k0005 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 14 | GB08 (Leading Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), LV03 (Great Surge), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220910-0002 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 15 | TB17 (Hurricane) | – | – | doi:10.70976/j.2096-0964.wjim-2024-0029 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI04 | Junction Valley | Large Intestine Meridian | On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. |
| ST08 | Head Corner | Stomach Meridian | On the lateral side of the head, 0.5 thumb widths above the anterior hairline at the corner of the forehead & 4.5 thumb widths lateral to the midline of the head. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| ST40 | Abundant Bulge | Stomach Meridian | 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. |
| ST44 | Inner Court | Stomach Meridian | Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint. |
| SP06 | Three Yin Intersection | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia. |
| BL02 | Gathered Bamboo | Bladder Meridian | On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch. |
| BL10 | Celestial Pillar | Bladder Meridian | 1.3 thumb widths lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline and in the depression on the lateral aspect of the trapezius. |
| BL11 | Great Shuttle | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV13 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra. |
| BL60 | Kunlun (Mountains) | Bladder Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| PC06 | Inner Gate | Pericardium Meridian | 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. |
| TB05 | Outer Gate | Triple Burner Meridian | 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. |
| GB02 | Hearing Convergence | Gallbladder Meridian | Anterior to the intertragic notch at the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open. |
| GB08 | Leading Valley | Gallbladder Meridian | Superior to the apex of the auricle 1.5 thumb widths within the hairline. |
| GB14 | Yang Bright | Gallbladder Meridian | On the forehead directly above the pupil, 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow. |
| GB34 | Yang Mound Spring | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. |
| GB41 | Foot Governor Of Tears | Gallbladder Meridian | Posterior to the 4th metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression the lateral to the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot. |
| LV02 | Passing Between | Liver Meridian | 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. |
| LV03 | Great Surge | Liver Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. |
| GV18 | Unyielding Space | Governing Vessel | 4 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline 1.5 thumb widths directly above the GV17. |
| GV23 | Upper Star | Governing Vessel | 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline. |
| GB20 | Wind Pool | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16. |
| ST29 | Return | Stomach Meridian | 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV03. |
| SI03 | Back Stream | Small Intestine Meridian | When loose fist is made point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and junction of the red and white skin. |
| KD12 | Great Manifestation | Kidney Meridian | 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV03. |
| TB20 | Angle Vertex | Triple Burner Meridian | Directly above the ear apex within the hair line. |
| GB13 | Spirit Root | Gallbladder Meridian | 0.5 thumb widths within the hairline of the forehead 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV24. |
| GB40 | Mound | Gallbladder Meridian | Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus. |
| CV03 | Central Pivot | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| GV20 | 100 Convergences | Governing Vessel | 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. |
| GV24 | Spirit Court | Governing Vessel | 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline. |
| TB08 | Three Yang Connection | Triple Burner Meridian | 4 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist between radius and ulna. |
| TB19 | Skull Rest | Triple Burner Meridian | Posterior to the ear at the junction of the upper and middle third of the curve formed by TB17 and TB20 behind helix. |
| GB33 | Yang Knee Gate | Gallbladder Meridian | 3 thumb widths above the GB34 lateral to the knee joint in the depression above the external epicondyle of the femur. |
| GV16 | Wind Mansion | Governing Vessel | 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline directly below external occipital protuberance in the depression the between trapezius of the both sides. |
| XH01A | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| XH01B | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| XH01C | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| XH01D | Four Spirit Brightness | Extra Points: Head | Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it. |
| BL09 | Jade Pillow | Bladder Meridian | 2.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline and 13 thumb widths lateral to the midline in the depression on the level of the upper border of the external occipital protuberance. |
| GB12 | Mastoid Process | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the posterior and inferior to the mastoid process. |
| BL18 | Liver Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra. |
| TB23 | Silken Bamboo Hollow | Triple Burner Meridian | In the depression the at the lateral end of the eyebrow. |
| LV14 | Qi Cycle Gate | Liver Meridian | Directly below nipple in the 6th intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline. |
| XH05 | Supreme Yang (Sun) | Extra Points: Head | 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. |
| TB17 | Hurricane | Triple Burner Meridian | Posterior to the lobule of the ear in the depression the between mandible and mastoid process. |

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AcuiQ-authored prose (symptom and meridian descriptions, the wiki, the auricular crosswalk) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The assembled protocol compilation is not: build on it with attribution, but do not redistribute it whole as a dataset – https://acuiq.com/terms. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms