Acupuncture Points for Macular Degeneration

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL01 · GB20 · XH23

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

XH23New Brightness

XH23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 新明 (xīn míng)

🎯 Location: On the joint of the ear lobe and cheek, 0.5 thumb widths anterior and superior to the yifeng (TB17).

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Atrophy Optic, Eyesight / Vision Acuity, Acuity Vision, Atrophy Optic

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60027-8 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL01, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗

Protocol (16 points)

100%

LI04 · ST02 · ST07 · ST36 · BL02 · TB05 · TB23 · GB14 · GB20 · GB37 · LV03 · GV20 · GV24 · XH03 · XH04 · XH05

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

ST02Four Direction Brightness

ST02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四白 (sì bái)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil in the depression the at the infraorbital foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with infraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Headache

ST07Below The Arch

ST07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下關 (xià guān)

🎯 Location: On the face anterior to the ear in the depression the between zygomatic arch and mandibular notch; point is located with mouth closed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Swelling, Pain, Deafness, Deviation Eye

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

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

TB23Silken Bamboo Hollow

TB23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 絲竹空 (sī zhú kōng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the at the lateral end of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near eye.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Aversion Cold, Deviation Eye

GB14Yang Bright

GB14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽白 (yáng bái)

🎯 Location: On the forehead directly above the pupil, 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Chills, Deviation Eye

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GB37Bright Light

GB37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 光明 (guāng míng)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths directly above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Heat, Numbness, Pain, Breast Pain

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

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

GV24Spirit Court

GV24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神庭 (shén tíng)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Palpitations, Depression

XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall

XH03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 印堂 (yìn táng)

🎯 Location: At the glabella, at the midpoint between the medial extremities of the eyebrows.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Dizziness, Wind, Facial Pain, Insomnia

XH04Fish Waist

XH04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 魚腰 (yú yāo)

🎯 Location: In the centre of the eyebrow, in the depression the directly above the pupil when the eyes are looking straight forward.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Redness, Swelling, Pain, Eye Pain, Benefit Eyes

XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)

XH05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太陽 (tài yáng)

🎯 Location: At the temple, in the tender depression the approximately 1 thumb width posterior to the midpoint between the lateral extremity of the eyebrow & the outer canthus of the eye.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 28 sessions over 4 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST02, BL02, GB14, GB20, GB37, XH05 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
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Protocol (11 points)

100%

ST02 · ST40 · BL01 · BL02 · BL18 · BL23 · GB01 · GB14 · GB20 · GB37 · XH05

ST02Four Direction Brightness

ST02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四白 (sì bái)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil in the depression the at the infraorbital foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with infraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Headache

ST40Abundant Bulge

ST40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 豐隆 (fēng lóng)

🎯 Location: 8 thumb widths superior to the tip of the external malleolus, lateral to the ST38 about 2 finger breadth (middle finger) lateral to the anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Asthma

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

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

GB01Pupil Crevice

GB01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 瞳子髎 (tóng zǐ liáo)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the outer canthus in the depression on the lateral side of the orbit.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Deviation Eye

GB14Yang Bright

GB14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽白 (yáng bái)

🎯 Location: On the forehead directly above the pupil, 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Chills, Deviation Eye

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GB37Bright Light

GB37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 光明 (guāng míng)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths directly above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Heat, Numbness, Pain, Breast Pain

XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)

XH05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太陽 (tài yáng)

🎯 Location: At the temple, in the tender depression the approximately 1 thumb width posterior to the midpoint between the lateral extremity of the eyebrow & the outer canthus of the eye.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Pain

Study-reported

Needling

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST02, BL02, GB14, GB20, GB37, XH05 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Macular Degeneration:

Points cited for Macular Degeneration

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Macular Degeneration. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian3 of 3
  • BL01Bright Eyes / Eye PointBladder Meridian2 of 3
  • BL02Gathered BambooBladder Meridian2 of 3
  • GB14Yang BrightGallbladder Meridian2 of 3
  • GB37Bright LightGallbladder Meridian2 of 3
  • ST02Four Direction BrightnessStomach Meridian2 of 3
  • XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)Extra Points: Head2 of 3
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • GB01Pupil CreviceGallbladder Meridian1 of 3
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel1 of 3
  • GV24Spirit CourtGoverning Vessel1 of 3

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling2 of 3

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

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