Acupuncture Points for Heroin Dependence

4 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST36 · HT07 · PC06

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

HT07Spirit Gate

HT07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Palpitations, Common Cold, Heat

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2010.11.002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1142/S0192415X14500372 ↗

Protocol (27 points)

100%

BL11 · BL12 · BL13 · BL14 · BL15 · BL16 · BL17 · BL18 · BL19 · BL20 · BL21 · BL22 · BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · GV03 · GV04 · GV05 · GV06 · GV07 · GV08 · GV09 · GV10 · GV11 · GV12 · GV13 · GV14

BL11Great Shuttle

BL11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大杼 (dà zhù)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV13 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain

BL12Wind Gate

BL12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風門 (fēng mén)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath

BL13Lung Shu Point

BL13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肺俞 (fèi shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Asthma

BL14Absolute Yin Shu Point

BL14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 厥陰俞 (jué yīn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Asthma, Palpitations, Vomiting

BL15Heart Shu Point

BL15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心俞 (xīn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV11 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling – risk of pneumothorax. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Anxiety, Sweating, Coughing Blood

BL16Governing Vessel Shu Point

BL16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 督俞 (dū shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV10 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 6th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Qi Deficiency, Common Cold

BL17Diaphragm Shu Point

BL17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膈俞 (gé shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Sweating, Dizziness

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

BL19Gallbladder Shu Point

BL19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膽俞 (dǎn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV07 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Common Cold, Vomiting

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

BL21Stomach Shu Point

BL21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃俞 (wèi shū)

🎯 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

BL22Sanjiao Shu Point

BL22 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三焦俞 (sān jiāo shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV05 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Heat

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

BL24Sea Of Qi Shu Point

BL24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Hemorrhoids, Menstrual Cramps, Leg Weakness

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain

GV03Yang Lumbar Gate

GV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰陽關 (yāo yáng guān)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Lower Back Pain, Urine White, Benefit Legs, Benefit Back Lumbar

GV04Life Gate

GV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 命門 (mìng mén)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Anxiety, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

GV05Suspended Pivot

GV05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 懸樞 (xuán shū)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Hip Pain, Epilepsy, Hemorrhoids, Lower Back Pain, Spontaneous Sweating

GV06Spine Centre

GV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脊中 (jǐ zhōng)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Common Cold, Vomiting

GV07Central Pivot

GV07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中樞 (zhōng shū)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Jaundice, Common Cold, Vomiting, Absent Periods

GV08Sinew Contraction

GV08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 筋縮 (jīn suō)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Jaundice, Common Cold, Vomiting, Wind

GV09Reaching Yang

GV09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 至陽 (zhì yáng)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra approximately at the level with inferior angle of the scapula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

GV10Spirit Tower

GV10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 靈台 (líng tái)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 6th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Common Cold

GV11Spirit Path

GV11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神道 (shén dào)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Anxiety, Dizziness, Palpitations

GV12Body Pillar

GV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 身柱 (shēn zhù)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

GV13Way Of Happiness

GV13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陶道 (táo dào)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Heat, Depression, Chills, Malaria

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Laser · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.04.010 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2010.11.002 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · TF10

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

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture + Needling · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1142/S0192415X14500372 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2010.11.002 ↗
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24 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Single-point entry

100%

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2010.11.002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.04.010 ↗
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Heroin Dependence:

Points cited for Heroin Dependence

How often each point appears across the 4 entries ranked highest for Heroin Dependence. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 4
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 4
  • BL11Great ShuttleBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL12Wind GateBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL13Lung Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL14Absolute Yin Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL15Heart Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL16Governing Vessel Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL17Diaphragm Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL19Gallbladder Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Laser1 of 3
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 3
  • Needling1 of 3

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

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