# Acupoints for Headache Tension-type

18 sourced protocols for Headache Tension-type. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/headache-tension-type

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST44 (Inner Court), SI03 (Back Stream), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | SI14 (Outer Shoulder Point), GB21 (Shoulder Well), GV14 (Great Vertebra), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.3390/jcm13154457 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | ST08 (Head Corner), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV20 (100 Convergences), GV24 (Spirit Court) | – | – | doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230189 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST08 (Head Corner), GB20 (Wind Pool), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences) | – | – | doi:10.27879/d.cnki.ggxzy.2025.000086 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | doi:10.26988/d.cnki.gcdzu.2023.000358 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST44 (Inner Court), SI03 (Back Stream), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.1177/0333102421989620 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 8 | LI04 (Junction Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 9 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST44 (Inner Court), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 10 | LI04 (Junction Valley), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 11 | LI04 (Junction Valley), SI03 (Back Stream), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 12 | LI04 (Junction Valley), PC06 (Inner Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 13 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI10 (Arm Three Miles), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), KD03 (Great Stream), TB03 (Central Islet), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall) | – | – | doi:10.1177/2164956120905817 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 14 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST44 (Inner Court), SI03 (Back Stream), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/0333102421989620 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 15 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST44 (Inner Court), SI03 (Back Stream), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), LV03 (Great Surge), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness), XH03 (Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | doi:10.1177/02692155241229282 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 16 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | 张心悦周俊蒋楠楠黎信陵胡胜婕李政杰曾芳. 不同机体状态即时揿针针刺“四关穴”的脑功能活动响应异同研究. 中华中医药杂志 ., 2025 [CNKI] | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 17 | LI04 (Junction Valley), GB20 (Wind Pool), GB21 (Shoulder Well), LV03 (Great Surge), GV23 (Upper Star) | – | – | YANG Xu-guang, LI Ying, TIAN Xiao-ping & LIANG Fan-rong. Comments on Selection of Non-acupoints beyond Meridians in Studies of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010; 30(4): 309-313 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 18 | LI04 (Junction Valley), ST08 (Head Corner), GB20 (Wind Pool), GV20 (100 Convergences), XH01A (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01B (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01C (Four Spirit Brightness), XH01D (Four Spirit Brightness), XH05 (Supreme Yang (Sun)) | – | – | Chen Ri-Han et al.. [Efficacy observation on chronic tension-type headache treated with acupuncture at galea tendon-muscle node].. Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, 2013 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |

## 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. |
| GB20 | Wind Pool | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| SI14 | Outer Shoulder Point | Small Intestine Meridian | 3 thumb widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra where GV13 is located. |
| GB21 | Shoulder Well | Gallbladder Meridian | On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder. |
| GV14 | Great Vertebra | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders. |
| 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. |
| GV24 | Spirit Court | Governing Vessel | 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline. |
| XH03 | Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall | Extra Points: Head | At the glabella, at the midpoint between the medial extremities of the eyebrows. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| LI10 | Arm Three Miles | Large Intestine Meridian | On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| 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. |
| KD03 | Great Stream | Kidney Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| TB03 | Central Islet | Triple Burner Meridian | When fist is clenched point is on the dorsum of the hand between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones in the depression the proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint. |
| GB34 | Yang Mound Spring | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. |
| GV23 | Upper Star | Governing Vessel | 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline. |

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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