Acupuncture Points for Lumbar Postoperative Pain

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Lumbar Postoperative Pain

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

  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian2 of 2
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 2
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian1 of 2
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 2
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian1 of 2
  • SI03Back StreamSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • XU07AWaist Pain PointsExtra Points: Upper limbs1 of 2
  • XU07BWaist Pain PointsExtra Points: Upper limbs1 of 2

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · PC06 · LV03

Point 1 of 4

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

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s12871-022-01875-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250105-k0001 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · SI03 · KD03 · GB34 · XU07A · XU07B

Point 1 of 8

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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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

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

SI03Back Stream

SI03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 後谿 (hòu xī)

🎯 Location: When loose fist is made point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Tinnitus, Jaundice, Common Cold

KD03Great Stream

KD03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太谿 (tài xī)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Heat Deficiency, Asthma

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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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

XU07AWaist Pain Points

XU07A acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰痛穴 (yāo tòng xué)

🎯 Location: Two points between the second & third & the fourth & fifth metacarpal bones, in the depressions lying immediately distal to the bases of the metacarpals.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Lower Back Pain, Headache, Hand Dorsum Redness

XU07BWaist Pain Points

XU07B acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰痛穴 (yāo tòng xué)

🎯 Location: Two points between the second & third & the fourth & fifth metacarpal bones, in the depressions lying immediately distal to the bases of the metacarpals.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Lower Back Pain, Headache, Hand Dorsum Redness

Study-reported

Needling · 7 sessions over 7 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250105-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s12871-022-01875-3 ↗
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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.

  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 2
  • Needling1 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.