Acupuncture Points for Insomnia Shift-work

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Insomnia Shift-work:

Points cited for Insomnia Shift-work

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Insomnia Shift-work. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel2 of 2
  • CVC01HeartAuricular Points1 of 2
  • GB12Mastoid ProcessGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian1 of 2
  • KD01Bubbling SpringKidney Meridian1 of 2
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • SI03Back StreamSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • ST08Head CornerStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points1 of 2

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI11 · SI03 · KD01 · GB12 · GB21 · GV20

Point 1 of 6

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

SI03Back Stream

SI03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 後谿 (hòu xī)

🎯 Location: When loose fist is made point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Tinnitus, Jaundice, Common Cold

KD01Bubbling Spring

KD01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 湧泉 (yǒng quán)

🎯 Location: On the sole in the depression the when foot is in the plantar flexion the approximately at the junction of the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the line connecting base of the 2nd and 3rd toes and heel.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Coughing Blood

GB12Mastoid Process

GB12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 完骨 (wán gǔ)

🎯 Location: In the depression the posterior and inferior to the mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Epilepsy

GB21Shoulder Well

GB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩井 (jiān jǐng)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax. 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: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Kidney Deficiency, 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

Study-reported

Acupressure · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3390/ijerph18084199 ↗
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:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20251202-k0003 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

ST08 · ST36 · HT07 · GB20 · GV20 · CVC01 · TF10

Point 1 of 7

ST08Head Corner

ST08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頭維 (tóu wéi)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the head, 0.5 thumb widths above the anterior hairline at the corner of the forehead & 4.5 thumb widths lateral to the midline of the head.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Vomiting, 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

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

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

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

CVC01Heart

CVC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心 (xīn)

🎯 Location: A depression which is located at the center of Cavum Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe cardiac conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Hypertension, Arrhythmia, Neurasthenia, Raynaud's Disease, Heart Disease

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

Needling · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20251202-k0003 ↗
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:10.3390/ijerph18084199 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 2 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure1 of 2
  • Needling1 of 2

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

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