Acupuncture Points for Incomplete Bladder Emptying

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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

Points cited for Incomplete Bladder Emptying

How often each point appears across the 42 entries ranked highest for Incomplete Bladder Emptying. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel22 of 42
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel21 of 42
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian21 of 42
  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian16 of 42
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel10 of 42
  • BL33Middle Bone HoleBladder Meridian9 of 42
  • BL28Bladder Shu PointBladder Meridian8 of 42
  • CV02Curved BoneConception Vessel8 of 42
  • ST28WaterwayStomach Meridian8 of 42
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel7 of 42
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian7 of 42
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian5 of 42

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

SP06 · BL28 · BL32

Point 1 of 3

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/CIA.S37531 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, BL28, BL32 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2013.23.017 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST28 · CV02 · CV04

Point 1 of 3

ST28Waterway

ST28 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水道 (shuǐ dào)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.

⚠️ 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: Constipation, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Edema, Urinary Retention

Study-reported

Needling · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000020376 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST28, CV02, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2013.23.017 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

61%

BL23 · BL28 · BL32 · CV03 · CV04 · GV03 · GV04

Point 1 of 7

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn yú)

🎯 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

Electroacupuncture · 36 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230831-0004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL28, BL32, CV03, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2013.23.017 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

56%

BL32 · BL33 · BL35

Point 1 of 3

BL32Second Bone Hole

BL32 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 次髎 (cì hé)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine just at the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Pain, Urinary Retention, Infertility, Sciatica

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture + Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20231216-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL32, BL33, BL35 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/543174 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

56%

SP06 · CV03 · CV04

Point 1 of 3

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Electroacupuncture + Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20231216-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, CV03, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16821/j.cnki.hsjx.2014.16.027 ↗

Protocol (13 points)

56%

ST36 · SP06 · BL31 · BL32 · BL33 · BL34 · BL57 · KD01 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 · GV20

Point 1 of 13

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.16821/j.cnki.hsjx.2014.16.027 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, CV03, CV04 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.0255-2930.20221027-k0005 ↗
Hot Spots™ Press Needles
Sterile 1.5mm press needles on 3M backing tape · 100 per box
$19.99
per box · choose the quantity at checkout
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

How the studies delivered it

What the 30 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electroacupuncture13 of 30
  • Needling11 of 30
  • Moxibustion6 of 30
  • Acupressure2 of 30
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 30

Sessions: the 14 studies that gave a count ran a median of 9 (middle half 2 to 14).

Course: the 17 studies that gave a length ran a median of 2 weeks (middle half 1 day to 4 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.