Acupuncture Points for Hypertension Essential

26 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST32 · PC07 · PC08

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

PC07Great Mound

PC07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大陵 (dà líng)

🎯 Location: In the middle of the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Fever, Anxiety, Palpitations, Jaundice

PC08Palace Of Toil

PC08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 勞宮 (láo gōng)

🎯 Location: At the center of the palm between 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones but closer to the latter and in the part touching tip of the middle finger when fist is made.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Jaundice, Depression

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nel012 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · 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

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

Needling · 16 sessions over 8 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0508 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0427 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST36 · ST40 · SP06

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

ST40Abundant Bulge

ST40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 豐隆 (fēng lóng)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

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

Study-reported

30 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1080/10641963.2023.2181355 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06 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.0255-2930.2018.04.002 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST09 · ST36 · GB20 · LV03

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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

ST09Man's Prognosis

ST09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 人迎 (rén yíng)

🎯 Location: Level with tip of the adam's apple where pulsation of the common the carotid artery is palpable on the anterior border of the scm muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near carotid artery; avoid deep needling.

🛡️ Treats: Asthma, Dizziness, Chest Fullness, Vomiting, Swelling

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

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

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Needling · 30 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.04.001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, ST09, ST36, LV03 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.0255-2930.2019.07.001 ↗
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Protocol (7 points)

100%

LI11 · ST36 · SP06 · BL18 · BL23 · GB20 · LV03

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

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

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

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

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

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Thread embedding · 6 sessions over 90 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.04.002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, ST36, GB20, LV03 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.0255-2930.2018.04.001 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST09 · ST36 · LV03

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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

ST09Man's Prognosis

ST09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 人迎 (rén yíng)

🎯 Location: Level with tip of the adam's apple where pulsation of the common the carotid artery is palpable on the anterior border of the scm muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near carotid artery; avoid deep needling.

🛡️ Treats: Asthma, Dizziness, Chest Fullness, Vomiting, Swelling

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

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Needling · 40 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.07.001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, ST09, ST36, LV03 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.0255-2930.2018.04.001 ↗
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200 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98
Blood Pressure, Weight and Sweating
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Hypertension Essential:

Points cited for Hypertension Essential

How often each point appears across the 26 entries ranked highest for Hypertension Essential. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian14 of 26
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian12 of 26
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian12 of 26
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian8 of 26
  • ST09Man's PrognosisStomach Meridian8 of 26
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian7 of 26
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian7 of 26
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian5 of 26
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel3 of 26
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian3 of 26
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 26
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 26

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Hypertension Essential and found no effect. They are not counted above.

KD03 · LV03 – doi:10.1155/2016/5392954 – No better than another treatment

LV03 – doi:10.1155/2016/5392954 – No better than another treatment

KD03 – doi:10.1155/2016/5392954 – No better than another treatment

LV03 – doi:10.1155/2016/6908710

KD03 · LV03 – doi:10.1155/2016/5392954 – No better than another treatment

LV03 – doi:10.1155/2016/5392954 – No better than another treatment

KD03 – doi:10.1155/2016/5392954 – No better than another treatment

LI11 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

GV20 · XH01A · XH01B · XH01C · XH01D – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

Registered, results not reported

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

ST09 · KD03 · PC06 · LV03 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-380

LI11 · ST09 · ST36 · LV03 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-380

SP09 · SP10 · TB05 · GB20 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-380

LI04 · ST36 · HT07 · KD03 · PC06 · LV03 · CV14 · CV17 – doi:10.36660/abc.20240596

LI04 · LI11 · ST09 · ST36 · LV03 · GV20 – doi:10.2196/71850 – Text prints Baihui (BL7); the paper's Table 1 prints Baihui (GV20)

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · LV03 – doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0332268

How the studies delivered it

What the 21 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling14 of 21
  • Acupressure4 of 21
  • Thread embedding1 of 21
  • Moxibustion1 of 21

Sessions: the 16 studies that gave a count ran a median of 21 (middle half 12 to 29).

Course: the 17 studies that gave a length ran a median of 30 days (middle half 4 weeks to 8 weeks).

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

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