Acupuncture Points for Joint Swelling

14 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Joint Swelling

How often each point appears across the 14 entries ranked highest for Joint Swelling. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian11 of 14
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian8 of 14
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian3 of 14
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian3 of 14
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian2 of 14
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 14
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 14
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 14
  • SP02Great CapitalSpleen Meridian2 of 14
  • SP03Great WhiteSpleen Meridian2 of 14
  • ST44Inner CourtStomach Meridian2 of 14
  • TB05Outer GateTriple Burner Meridian2 of 14

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI05 · BL60 · GB30 · GB34 · CV22

Point 1 of 5

LI05Yang Stream

LI05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽谿 (yáng xī )

🎯 Location: On the radial side of the wrist; when thumb is tilted upward it is in the depression the between tendons of the extensor pollicus longus and brevis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nel012 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB34 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-7-35 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · TB05 · GB34 · GB39

Point 1 of 6

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

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 20 sessions over 10 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-7-35 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, TB05 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.0255-2930.20231119-k0001 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23

Point 1 of 2

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

Study-reported

Moxibustion · a 8-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2019/4705247 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/7150605 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23

Point 1 of 2

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

Study-reported

Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/7150605 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2019/4705247 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23

Point 1 of 2

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

Study-reported

Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2021/6637554 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2019/4705247 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23

Point 1 of 2

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

Moxibustion · 16 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2021/7466313 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL23 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2019/4705247 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 12 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Moxibustion6 of 12
  • Needling3 of 12
  • Electroacupuncture3 of 12

Sessions: the 7 studies that gave a count ran a median of 16 (middle half 9 to 18).

Course: the 8 studies that gave a length ran a median of 8 weeks (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.