Points cited for Lumbago How often each point appears across the 50 entries ranked highest for Lumbago. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.
BL23 Kidney Shu Point Bladder Meridian 42 of 50 BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Bladder Meridian 41 of 50 BL40 Middle Of The Crease Bladder Meridian 28 of 50 GB30 Jumping Circle Gallbladder Meridian 26 of 50 BL24 Sea Of Qi Shu Point Bladder Meridian 18 of 50 BL60 Kunlun (Mountains) Bladder Meridian 17 of 50 GB34 Yang Mound Spring Gallbladder Meridian 17 of 50 GV03 Yang Lumbar Gate Governing Vessel 17 of 50 BL26 Original Qi Gate Shu Point Bladder Meridian 11 of 50 BL54 Lowermost In Order Bladder Meridian 8 of 50 GB31 Wind Market Gallbladder Meridian 8 of 50 BL32 Second Bone Hole Bladder Meridian 7 of 50 Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean
Protocol (8 points) 100% BL22 · BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL52 · GV03 · GV04 · GV05
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 三焦俞 (sān jiāo shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV05 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Stress , Fever , Diarrhea , Jaundice , Heat
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)
🎯 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
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Abdominal Pain , Hemorrhoids , Menstrual Cramps , Leg Weakness
BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Common Cold , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 志室 (zhì shì)
🎯 Location: 3 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 due to risk of pneumothorax.
🛡️ Treats: Vomiting , Back Pain , Swelling , Edema , Dreaming
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Study-reported Needling + Point injection
Point selection reported in a published study.
doi:10.3831/KPI.2012.15.006 ↗ Corroborated by a second study. BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, 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:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204 ↗
Protocol (9 points) 56% BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL32 · BL40 · BL60 · GB30 · GB34
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)
🎯 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
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Abdominal Pain , Hemorrhoids , Menstrual Cramps , Leg Weakness
BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Common Cold , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Abdominal Pain
BL26 Original Qi Gate Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元俞 (guān yuán shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Lower Back Pain , Bedwetting
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 次髎 (cì liáo)
🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine just at the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.
🛡️ Treats: Constipation , Pain , Urinary Retention , Infertility , Sciatica
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)
🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.
🛡️ Treats: Fever , Diarrhea , Knee Pain , Vomiting , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 崑崙 (kūn lún)
🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon.
⚠️ 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: Cough , Shortness of Breath , Heat , Chest Fullness , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)
🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.
🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain , Back Pain , Leg Pain , Hip Pain , Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)
🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Fever , Knee Pain , Jaundice , Constipation , Vomiting
Study-reported Needling
Point selection reported in a published study.
doi:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗ Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL60, GB30 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.0000000000036684 ↗
Protocol (3 points) 56% BL23 · BL25 · BL40
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)
🎯 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
BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Common Cold , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)
🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.
🛡️ Treats: Fever , Diarrhea , Knee Pain , Vomiting , Abdominal Pain
Study-reported Needling · 1 session
Point selection reported in a published study.
doi:10.1155/2019/4024501 ↗ Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25, BL40 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group.
doi:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗
Protocol (9 points) 56% SP06 · BL22 · BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL40 · KD03 · GB30
SP06 Three Yin Intersection Click to enlarge
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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
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 三焦俞 (sān jiāo shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV05 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Stress , Fever , Diarrhea , Jaundice , Heat
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)
🎯 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
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Abdominal Pain , Hemorrhoids , Menstrual Cramps , Leg Weakness
BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Common Cold , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Abdominal Pain
BL26 Original Qi Gate Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元俞 (guān yuán shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Lower Back Pain , Bedwetting
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)
🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.
🛡️ Treats: Fever , Diarrhea , Knee Pain , Vomiting , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)
🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.
🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain , Back Pain , Leg Pain , Hip Pain , Pain
Study-reported Needling
Point selection reported in a published study.
doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i10.2308 ↗ Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group.
doi:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗
Protocol (4 points) 56% BL23 · BL25 · BL26 · BL54
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)
🎯 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
BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Common Cold , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Abdominal Pain
BL26 Original Qi Gate Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元俞 (guān yuán shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Lower Back Pain , Bedwetting
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Study-reported Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 2 weeks
Point selection reported in a published study.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034407 ↗ Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25, BL26, BL54 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group.
doi:10.3831/KPI.2025.28.4.269 ↗
Protocol (10 points) 56% BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL36 · BL37 · BL40 · BL57 · BL60 · GB30
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)
🎯 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
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Abdominal Pain , Hemorrhoids , Menstrual Cramps , Leg Weakness
BL25 Large Intestine Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Common Cold , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Abdominal Pain
BL26 Original Qi Gate Shu Point Click to enlarge
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元俞 (guān yuán shū)
🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea , Constipation , Abdominal Bloating , Lower Back Pain , Bedwetting
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 承扶 (chéng fú)
🎯 Location: On the posterior side of the thigh at the midpoint of the inferior gluteal crease.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Back Pain , Pain , Hemorrhoids , Sciatica , Lower Back Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 殷門 (yīn mén)
🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths below BL36 on the line joining BL36 and BL40.
⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.
🛡️ Treats: Back Pain , Hip Pain , Pain , Thigh Pain , Sciatica
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)
🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.
🛡️ Treats: Fever , Diarrhea , Knee Pain , Vomiting , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 承山 (chéng shān)
🎯 Location: On the posterior midline of the leg between BL40 and BL60 in the pointed depression the formed below gastrocnemius belly when leg is stretched or heel is lifted.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe varicose veins.
🛡️ Treats: Constipation , Pain , Rectal Prolapse , Malaria , Hemorrhoids
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 崑崙 (kūn lún)
🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon.
⚠️ 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: Cough , Shortness of Breath , Heat , Chest Fullness , Abdominal Pain
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian
🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)
🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.
⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.
🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain , Back Pain , Leg Pain , Hip Pain , Pain
Study-reported Needling · 36 sessions over 12 weeks
Point selection reported in a published study.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000036684 ↗ Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL60, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group.
doi:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗ AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life
Buy How the studies delivered it What the 41 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.
Needling 25 of 41 Electroacupuncture 8 of 41 Point injection 6 of 41 Thread embedding 4 of 41 Moxibustion 4 of 41 Laser 2 of 41 Cupping 1 of 41 Acupressure 1 of 41 Sessions: the 23 studies that gave a count ran a median of 8 (middle half 7 to 14).
Course: the 25 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 2 weeks to 6 weeks).
After a treatment : what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.