Acupuncture Points for Headache Cluster

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Headache Cluster:

Points cited for Headache Cluster

How often each point appears across the 5 entries ranked highest for Headache Cluster. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB14Yang BrightGallbladder Meridian3 of 5
  • BL02Gathered BambooBladder Meridian2 of 5
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • ST02Four Direction BrightnessStomach Meridian2 of 5
  • ST08Head CornerStomach Meridian2 of 5
  • XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)Extra Points: Head2 of 5
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian1 of 5
  • LV02Passing BetweenLiver Meridian1 of 5
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian1 of 5
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 5
  • XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal HallExtra Points: Head1 of 5
  • XH04Fish WaistExtra Points: Head1 of 5

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST02 · BL02

Point 1 of 2

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

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-211984 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST08 · GB14

Point 1 of 2

ST08Head Corner

ST08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頭維 (tóu wéi)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Vomiting, Wind

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.22246/jikm.2023.44.6.1197 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST08, GB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20211111-k0007 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST08 · GB14 · XH03

Point 1 of 4

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

ST08Head Corner

ST08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頭維 (tóu wéi)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Vomiting, Wind

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

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 · 36 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20211111-k0007 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST08, GB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.22246/jikm.2023.44.6.1197 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST02 · BL02 · XH04 · XH05

Point 1 of 4

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

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

XH04Fish Waist

XH04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 魚腰 (yú yāo)

🎯 Location: In the centre of the eyebrow, in the depression the directly above the pupil when the eyes are looking straight forward.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Redness, Swelling, Pain, Eye Pain, Benefit Eyes

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-211984 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. XH05 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10072-014-1769-6 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · GB14 · GB20 · LV02 · XH05

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

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

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

LV02Passing Between

LV02 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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 · 13 sessions over 12 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s10072-014-1769-6 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, GB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20211111-k0007 ↗
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Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Headache Cluster and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

ST02 · BL02 · XH04 · XH05 – doi:10.1136/acupmed-2015-211984rep

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

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

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