Acupuncture Points for Muscle Hypertonia

🗺️ 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

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: 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.

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

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手五里 (shǒu wǔ lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting LI11 and LI15, 3 thumb widths above the LI11.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth and angle.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Anxiety, Phlegm, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臂臑 (bì nào)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth to avoid nerve damage.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Redness, Swelling, Pain, Goiter

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān yú)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 梁丘 (liáng qiū)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Wind, Numbness, Leg Pain, Pain

🗺️ 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

🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 血海 (xuè hǎi)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the mediosuperior border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of the quadriceps femoris.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Absent Periods, Blood Stagnation, Pain, Hives

🗺️ 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

🗺️ 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

🗺️ 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

🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 丘墟 (qiū xū)

🎯 Location: Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Fever, Common Cold, Vomiting, Redness

🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足臨泣 (zú lín qì)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the 4th metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression the lateral to the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

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

🗺️ 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

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八邪 (bā xié)

🎯 Location: When the hand is made into the a fist, six of the these points lie in the depressions between the metacarpal heads, proximal to the web margins. the remaining two points lie equidistant between the thumb & index metacarpals, proximal to the web margins.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Stiffness Finger, Swelling, Finger Pain, Pain

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩前 / 肩內陵穴 (jiān qián / jiān nèi líng xué)

🎯 Location: On the anterior aspect of the shoulder joint, midway between the anterior axillary crease & jianyu l.i.-15. at the medial condyle of the shoulder joint..

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in acute shoulder injury.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Numbness, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders