Acupuncture Points for Lower Abdominal Pain

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (7 points)

100%

ST28 · ST36 · SP06 · SP09 · CV04 · CV06 · GV20

ST28Waterway

ST28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水道 (shuǐ dào)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.

⚠️ 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: Constipation, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Edema, Urinary Retention

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

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

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

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 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.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

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

Needling + Moxibustion

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.003 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV04 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2022/6866000 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

KD12 · CV03 · CV04

KD12Great Manifestation

KD12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大赫 (dà hè)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV03.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Deficiency, Uterine Prolapse, Penis Pain, Genital Pain, Eye Canthus Medial Redness

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2022/6866000 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV04 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.003 ↗
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Points cited for Lower Abdominal Pain

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Lower Abdominal Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel2 of 2
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel1 of 2
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel1 of 2
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel1 of 2
  • KD12Great ManifestationKidney Meridian1 of 2
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • ST28WaterwayStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 2

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Lower Abdominal Pain and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

SP06 · CV04 · CV06 · CV08 – doi:10.1155/2014/434978

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.

  • Needling1 of 2
  • Moxibustion1 of 2
  • Electroacupuncture1 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.