Acupuncture Points for Low Back Chronic Pain

29 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Low Back Chronic Pain

How often each point appears across the 29 entries ranked highest for Low Back Chronic Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian23 of 29
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian22 of 29
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian20 of 29
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel17 of 29
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu PointBladder Meridian11 of 29
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian10 of 29
  • BL60Kunlun (Mountains)Bladder Meridian9 of 29
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel9 of 29
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian6 of 29
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian5 of 29
  • GV05Suspended PivotGoverning Vessel4 of 29
  • BL26Original Qi Gate Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 29

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (19 points)

100%

ST04 · ST36 · SP13 · SP14 · BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL37 · BL40 · GB12 · GB26 · GB30 · GB34 · GB41 · GV03 · GV04 · GV05 · GV24 · GV26

Point 1 of 19

ST04Earth Granary

ST04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地倉 (dì cāng)

🎯 Location: Lateral to the corner of the mouth directly below pupil.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with facial nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Facial Droop, Channel Stagnation, Voice Loss, Toothache

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-118 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1857622 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · GB30 · GV03 · GV04 · GV05

Point 1 of 7

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

Point injection

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-16 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-118 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL40 · BL60 · KD03 · GB34

Point 1 of 7

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2013/125937 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-118 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL40 · BL60 · GV03

Point 1 of 7

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

Needling · 16 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010790 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL60, GV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000022526 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25

Point 1 of 3

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

Needling · 6 sessions over 3 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000013047 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-118 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL40 · BL60 · GV03

Point 1 of 7

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000022526 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL60, GV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010790 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 21 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling12 of 21
  • Laser4 of 21
  • Electroacupuncture4 of 21
  • Cupping3 of 21
  • Point injection1 of 21
  • Thread embedding1 of 21
  • Moxibustion1 of 21

Sessions: the 12 studies that gave a count ran a median of 7 (middle half 3 to 12).

Course: the 12 studies that gave a length ran a median of 3 weeks (middle half 4 days 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.