Acupuncture Points for Insomnia Chemotherapy-related

4 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (13 points)

100%

LI04 · ST25 · ST36 · SP06 · HT07 · KD03 · KD06 · PC06 · LV03 · CV04 · CV12 · GV20 · GV24

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

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, 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

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

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Heat Deficiency, Asthma

KD06Shining Sea

KD06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 照海 (zhào hǎi)

🎯 Location: In the depression the below tip of the medial malleolus.

⚠️ 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: Heat Deficiency, Dizziness, Constipation, Chest Fullness, Abdominal Bloating

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

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

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元 (guān yuán)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication. Bleeding in pregnancy requires obstetric assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Kidney Deficiency

CV12Stomach Centre

CV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中脘 (zhōng wǎn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Common Cold, Depression

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

GV24Spirit Court

GV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神庭 (shén tíng)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Palpitations, Depression

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 15 sessions over 18 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1177/15347354211058695 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, KD03, PC06, GV20, GV24 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s13058-023-01645-0 ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

SP06 · KD03 · PC06 · GV20 · GV24 · XH01A · XH01B · XH01C · XH01D

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

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Heat Deficiency, Asthma

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

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

GV24Spirit Court

GV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神庭 (shén tíng)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Palpitations, Depression

XH01AFour Spirit Brightness

XH01A acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

XH01BFour Spirit Brightness

XH01B acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

XH01CFour Spirit Brightness

XH01C acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

XH01DFour Spirit Brightness

XH01D acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四神聰 (sì shén cōng)

🎯 Location: Four points at the vertex of the scalp, grouped around baihui du-20 & located 1 thumb width anterior, posterior & lateral to the it.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Depression, Wind, Deafness, Epilepsy

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 15 sessions over 18 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13058-023-01645-0 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, KD03, PC06, GV20, GV24 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/15347354211058695 ↗
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135 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98

Protocol (9 points)

100%

BL15 · BL18 · BL23 · GB25 · LV14 · CV14 · GV20 · XH03 · XH16

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

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

GB25Capital Gate

GB25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 京門 (jīng mén)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the abdomen on the lower border of the free end of the 12th rib.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Common Cold, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

LV14Qi Cycle Gate

LV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 期門 (qī mén)

🎯 Location: Directly below nipple in the 6th intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

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

CV14Great Palace Gate

CV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨闕 (jù què)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 6 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle obliquely downwards and shallowly – deep or upward needling risks the heart and liver. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Phlegm, Palpitations, Jaundice

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall

XH03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 印堂 (yìn táng)

🎯 Location: At the glabella, at the midpoint between the medial extremities of the eyebrows.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Dizziness, Wind, Facial Pain, Insomnia

XH16Peaceful Sleep

XH16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 安眠 (ān mián)

🎯 Location: Behind the ear, midway between fengchi gb-20 & yifeng sj-17, close but slightly posterior & inferior to the wangu gb-12.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Epilepsy, Insomnia

Study-reported

Needling · 10 sessions over 5 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/NSS.S604964 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV20 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/15347354211058695 ↗
Press Needles
90 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · PC06

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

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

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

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s12911-026-03672-1 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, SP06, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/15347354211058695 ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99
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 Insomnia Chemotherapy-related:

Points cited for Insomnia Chemotherapy-related

How often each point appears across the 4 entries ranked highest for Insomnia Chemotherapy-related. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel3 of 4
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian3 of 4
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian3 of 4
  • GV24Spirit CourtGoverning Vessel2 of 4
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian2 of 4
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 4
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 4
  • BL15Heart Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 4
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 4

How the studies delivered it

What the 4 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electroacupuncture2 of 4
  • Needling2 of 4
  • Acupressure1 of 4

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 15 (middle half 13 to 15).

Course: the 3 studies that gave a length ran a median of 18 weeks (middle half 81 days to 18 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.