AcuiQ

Acupuncture Points for Lumbar Pain

74 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Lumbar Pain:

Back PainBack Low PainLumbar Disc HerniationLow Back PainDisc Herniation LumbarLumbar Lower Back Pain

Points cited for Lumbar Pain

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

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian37 of 50
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian27 of 50
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian25 of 50
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel15 of 50
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian13 of 50
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian12 of 50
  • BL26Original Qi Gate Shu PointBladder Meridian9 of 50
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel9 of 50
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu PointBladder Meridian8 of 50
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian8 of 50
  • BL57Mountain SupportBladder Meridian7 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian7 of 50

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

GB25 · LV02

Lumbar PainPosture Difficulty
Point 1 of 2

GB25Capital Gate

GB25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 京門 (jīng mén)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the abdomen on the lower border of the free end of the 12th rib.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Common Cold, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2012/268237 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (9 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL32 · BL40 · BL60 · GB30 · GB34

Lumbar PainLow-back Pain
Point 1 of 9

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:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL60, GB30, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13517/j.cnki.ccm.2025.05.015 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25 · BL40

Lumbar PainLower Back Pain
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 · 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)

100%

SP06 · BL22 · BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL40 · KD03 · GB30

Leg NumbnessLumbar PainBack Low PainLower-limb PainLower-limb NumbnessDisc-herniation LumbarHerniation Disc Lumbar
Point 1 of 9

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i10.2308 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, 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:10.13517/j.cnki.ccm.2025.05.015 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL23 · BL25 · BL26 · BL54

Back PainLumbar PainLow Back PainBack Low PainDisability FunctionalLumbosacral Pain
Point 1 of 4

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
Click to enlarge

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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

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 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 (10 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL36 · BL37 · BL40 · BL57 · BL60 · GB30

SciaticaLumbar PainLow Back PainLumbar Disc HerniationDisc-herniation LumbarLower-extremity Right PainLeg Right NumbnessScoliosis Lumbar
Point 1 of 10

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 · 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, BL36, BL40, BL57, BL60, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13517/j.cnki.ccm.2025.05.015 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 45 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling18 of 45
  • Electroacupuncture6 of 45
  • Thread embedding3 of 45
  • Laser2 of 45
  • Moxibustion2 of 45
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 45
  • Cupping1 of 45

Sessions: the 21 studies that gave a count ran a median of 8 (middle half 6 to 12).

Course: the 21 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.

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