AcuiQ

Acupuncture Points for Low Back Pain

185 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

AcuiQ posts on X about the papers it indexes. Follow @acu_iq

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Low Back Pain:

Low Back PainLow-back PainBack Low PainSciaticaLumbar Disc HerniationLumbar Pain

Points cited for Low Back Pain

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

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian35 of 50
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian31 of 50
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian24 of 50
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian18 of 50
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu PointBladder Meridian17 of 50
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel17 of 50
  • BL60Kunlun (Mountains)Bladder Meridian14 of 50
  • BL26Original Qi Gate Shu PointBladder Meridian10 of 50
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel10 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian9 of 50
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian7 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian7 of 50

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (5 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25 · BL40 · GV03 · GV04

Low Back PainDisability Low Back
Point 1 of 5

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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:10.1371/journal.pone.0000919 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25, BL40, GV03, GV04 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.2025.101180 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25 · BL40 · GV03 · GV04

Back Low PainDisability Musculoskeletal
Point 1 of 5

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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:10.1371/journal.pone.0000919 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL25, BL40, GV03, GV04 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.2025.101180 ↗

Protocol (11 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP12 · BL26 · BL32 · BL33 · BL54 · BL60 · KD11 · GB30 · GV20

Low Back PainPelvic Girdle PainSacroiliac PainSymphysis PainPregnancy Second TrimesterPregnancy Third Trimester
Point 1 of 11

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

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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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-34 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL26, BL32, BL33, BL54, GB30 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 (3 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25

Back Low PainDisability Functional
Point 1 of 3

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Bloodletting + Cupping · 6 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-146 ↗
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:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL25 · BL40

SciaticaLeg PainLow Back PainRadiculopathyLower Extremity Numbness
Point 1 of 2

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
Click to enlarge

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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng yú)

🎯 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

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 18 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-226 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL25, BL40 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000919 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL25 · GV02

SciaticaLeg PainLow Back PainRadiculopathyLower Extremity Numbness
Point 1 of 2

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng yú)

🎯 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

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 18 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-226 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL25, GV02 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2014/154941 ↗
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Back Pain
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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.

  • Needling28 of 41
  • Electroacupuncture9 of 41
  • Moxibustion5 of 41
  • Point injection3 of 41
  • Acupressure2 of 41
  • Bloodletting1 of 41
  • Cupping1 of 41
  • Thread embedding1 of 41
  • Laser1 of 41
  • Press needles1 of 41

Sessions: the 24 studies that gave a count ran a median of 9 (middle half 6 to 13).

Course: the 29 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 2 weeks to 30 days).

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

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