Acupuncture Points for Lumbar Spondylosis

4 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · GB31 · LV03

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

GB31Wind Market

GB31 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風市 (fēng shì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, 7 thumb widths above the transverse popliteal crease; when patient is standing erect with hands close to the sides, point is where tip of the middle finger touches.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Wind, Pain, Hives, Sciatica

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

Needling + Acupressure

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/ijgm.s3670 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

90%

BL32 · BL52 · KD03

BL32Second Bone Hole

BL32 acupoint
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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

BL52Willpower Room

BL52 acupoint
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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

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

Text or case report

Needling + Cupping

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
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Protocol (2 points)

90%

BL23 · KD03

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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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

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

Text or case report

Needling

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (7 points)

90%

BL23 · BL25 · BL52 · XB02L2 · XB02L3 · XB02L4 · XB02L5

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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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

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
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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

BL52Willpower Room

BL52 acupoint
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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

XB02L2Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L2

XB02L2 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the second lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Kidney Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02L3Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L3

XB02L3 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the third lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Uterus Disorder, Circulation Blood, Bladder Disorder, Leg Disorder

XB02L4Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L4

XB02L4 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fourth lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Uterus Disorder, Circulation Blood, Bladder Disorder, Leg Disorder

XB02L5Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L5

XB02L5 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fifth lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Uterus Disorder, Circulation Blood, Bladder Disorder, Leg Disorder

Text or case report

Needling + Cupping · 18 sessions

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Zhu Bing, Wang Hongcai (eds). Case Studies from the Medical Records of Leading Chinese Acupuncture Experts. London: Singing Dragon, 2011
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Lumbar Spondylosis:

Points cited for Lumbar Spondylosis

How often each point appears across the 4 entries ranked highest for Lumbar Spondylosis. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 4
  • BL52Willpower RoomBladder Meridian2 of 4
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian2 of 4
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • GB31Wind MarketGallbladder Meridian1 of 4
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 4
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 4
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 4
  • XB02L2Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L2Extra Points: Back1 of 4
  • XB02L3Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L3Extra Points: Back1 of 4
  • XB02L4Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - L4Extra Points: Back1 of 4

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Lumbar Spondylosis and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

SP07 · SI19 · BL26 · BL40 · BL57 · BL60 · BL62 · TB17 · GB20 · LV01 · LV03 · CV02 · GV03 · GV06 · GV08 · GV14 – doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101171

How the studies delivered it

What the 1 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling1 of 1
  • Acupressure1 of 1

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

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