AcuiQ

Acupuncture Points for Heartburn

16 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

AcuiQ posts on X about the papers it indexes. Follow @acu_iq

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Heartburn:

NauseaReflux GastroesophagealBloatingDyspepsia FunctionalEarly SatietyPostprandial Fullness

Points cited for Heartburn

How often each point appears across the 16 entries ranked highest for Heartburn. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian8 of 16
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel7 of 16
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel5 of 16
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian5 of 16
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian5 of 16
  • SP04Grandfather GrandsonSpleen Meridian5 of 16
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 16
  • MS03Lateral Line 2 of ForeheadScalp Lines3 of 16
  • BL21Stomach Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 16
  • CV10Lower StomachConception Vessel2 of 16
  • CV13Upper StomachConception Vessel2 of 16
  • CVC10ThalamusAuricular Points2 of 16

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST34 · ST36 · ST40 · ST42

NauseaBloatingHeartburnDyspepsia FunctionalAbdominal Pain EpigastricEarly SatietyPostprandial Fullness
Point 1 of 4

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 梁丘 (liáng qiū)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Wind, Numbness, Leg Pain, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-75 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST36 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-89 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST32 · ST33 · ST35 · ST38

NauseaBloatingHeartburnDyspepsia FunctionalAbdominal Pain EpigastricEarly SatietyPostprandial Fullness
Point 1 of 4

ST32Crouching Rabbit

ST32 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 伏兔 (fú tù)

🎯 Location: On the line connecting asis and lateral border of the patella 6 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Common Cold, Pain, Lower Back Pain, Channel Stagnation

Study-reported

Needling · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-75 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL21 · CV12

NauseaBloatingHeartburnDyspepsia FunctionalAbdominal Pain EpigastricEarly SatietyPostprandial Fullness
Point 1 of 2

BL21Stomach Shu Point

BL21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃俞 (wèi yú)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Vomiting

Study-reported

Needling · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-75 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL21, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13181/mji.v28i3.1850 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

GB34 · GB36 · GB37 · GB40

NauseaBloatingHeartburnDyspepsia FunctionalAbdominal Pain EpigastricEarly SatietyPostprandial Fullness
Point 1 of 4

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ 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 · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-75 ↗
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:10.1186/s13063-016-1371-8 ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

LI04 · ST34 · ST36 · SP04 · SI14 · PC06 · GB21 · LV03 · CV12

NauseaBloatingHeartburnEpigastric PainDyspepsia Functional
Point 1 of 9

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

Study-reported

Needling · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-89 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP04, PC06, LV03, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60039-4 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST36 · SP04 · PC06 · LV03 · CV12

HeartburnGastroesophageal Reflux DiseaseReflux AcidReflux Bile
Point 1 of 5

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 42 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60039-4 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP04, PC06, LV03, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-89 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 10 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling5 of 10
  • Electroacupuncture4 of 10
  • Thread embedding2 of 10

Sessions: the 7 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 10 to 22).

Course: the 8 studies that gave a length ran a median of 6 weeks (middle half 4 weeks to 46 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.