# Acupoints for Lymphedema Upper Limb

7 sourced protocols for Lymphedema Upper Limb. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/lymphedema-upper-limb

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LU05 (Cubit Marsh), LI04 (Junction Valley), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), TB14 (Shoulder Bone Hole), CV03 (Central Pivot), CV12 (Stomach Centre) | – | – | doi:10.1007/s10549-018-4743-9 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | LU05 (Cubit Marsh), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), LI14 (Upper Arm Prominence), SI09 (True Shoulder), SI11 (Heavenly Gathering), BL13 (Lung Shu Point), BL20 (Spleen Shu Point), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), PC06 (Inner Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB21 (Shoulder Well), CV17 (Chest Centre), GV14 (Great Vertebra) | – | – | doi:10.1177/15347354231172735 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | LU05 (Cubit Marsh), LI04 (Junction Valley), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST38 (Ribbon Opening), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), KD07 (Returning Flow), GB21 (Shoulder Well), LV03 (Great Surge), CV03 (Central Pivot) | – | – | doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.799 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | LU01 (Central Mansion), BL13 (Lung Shu Point), BL20 (Spleen Shu Point), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), GB25 (Capital Gate), LV13 (Bright Gate) | – | – | doi:10.13260/j.cnki.jfjtcm.2026.02002 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), TB05 (Outer Gate) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230330-0022 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | LU05 (Cubit Marsh), LI04 (Junction Valley), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST38 (Ribbon Opening), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), KD07 (Returning Flow), GB21 (Shoulder Well), LV03 (Great Surge), CV03 (Central Pivot) | – | – | doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.799 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | LI11 (Pond At The Bend), LI14 (Upper Arm Prominence), TB05 (Outer Gate) | – | – | Han K, Kwon O, Park H, Kim A, Lee B, Kim M, Kim J, Yang C, Yoo H.. Electronic Moxibustion for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Clinical Trial. Integrative cancer therapies, 2020 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| LU05 | Cubit Marsh | Lung Meridian | On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed. |
| LI04 | Junction Valley | Large Intestine Meridian | On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. |
| LI15 | Shoulder And Clavicle | Large Intestine Meridian | Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| SP06 | Three Yin Intersection | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia. |
| TB14 | Shoulder Bone Hole | Triple Burner Meridian | On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted. |
| CV03 | Central Pivot | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths below umbilicus. |
| CV12 | Stomach Centre | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the umbilicus. |
| LI11 | Pond At The Bend | Large Intestine Meridian | When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus. |
| LI14 | Upper Arm Prominence | Large Intestine Meridian | On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting LI11 and LI15, 7 thumb widths above the LI11 at the insertion of the deltoid muscle. |
| SI09 | True Shoulder | Small Intestine Meridian | Posterior and inferior to the shoulder joint; when arm is adducted point is 1 thumb width above the posterior end of the axillary fold. |
| SI11 | Heavenly Gathering | Small Intestine Meridian | On the scapula in the depression of the center of the subscapular fossa and at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra. |
| BL13 | Lung Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra. |
| BL20 | Spleen Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra. |
| BL23 | Kidney Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra. |
| PC06 | Inner Gate | Pericardium Meridian | 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. |
| TB05 | Outer Gate | Triple Burner Meridian | 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna. |
| GB21 | Shoulder Well | Gallbladder Meridian | On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder. |
| CV17 | Chest Centre | Conception Vessel | On the anterior midline at the level with 4th intercostal space, midway between nipples. |
| GV14 | Great Vertebra | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders. |
| ST38 | Ribbon Opening | Stomach Meridian | 8 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| SP09 | Yin Mound Spring | Spleen Meridian | On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia. |
| BL60 | Kunlun (Mountains) | Bladder Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| KD07 | Returning Flow | Kidney Meridian | 2 thumb widths directly above the KD03 on the anterior border of the achilles tendon. |
| LV03 | Great Surge | Liver Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. |
| LU01 | Central Mansion | Lung Meridian | Laterosuperior to the sternum 1 thumb width below LU02 at the level of the 1st intercostal space 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline. |
| GB25 | Capital Gate | Gallbladder Meridian | On the lateral side of the abdomen on the lower border of the free end of the 12th rib. |
| LV13 | Bright Gate | Liver Meridian | On the lateral side of the abdomen below free end of the 11th rib. |

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AcuiQ-authored content (the protocol compilation, symptom and meridian prose, research essays) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms
