Acupuncture Points for Labor Pain

55 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Labor Pain

How often each point appears across the 50 entries ranked highest for Labor Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian28 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian24 of 50
  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian10 of 50
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian6 of 50
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian4 of 50
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian3 of 50
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points3 of 50
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 50
  • CVC10ThalamusAuricular Points2 of 50
  • HX04External GenitalAuricular Points2 of 50
  • IN01EndocrineAuricular Points2 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 50

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jams.2015.08.003 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.jams.2015.08.003 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

LI04 · BL31 · BL32 · BL33 · BL34 · GB30 · LV03

Point 1 of 7

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S46693 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, BL32, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3896-0 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06 · BL32 · GB21 · GB30

Point 1 of 5

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Acupressure · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3896-0 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06, BL32, GB21, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102413 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · BL67

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_257_19 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · SP06

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_257_19 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nel053 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 36 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure25 of 36
  • Needling4 of 36
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 36
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 36
  • Point injection1 of 36

Sessions: the 14 studies that gave a count ran a median of 1 (middle half 1 to 3).

Course: the 15 studies that gave a length ran a median of 1 day (middle half 1 day to 1 day).

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

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