Acupuncture Points for Muscle Soreness

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LU07 · LU09 · LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · CV04 · CV06 · GV14

LU07Interrupted Sequence

LU07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 列缺 (liè quē)

🎯 Location: Superior to the styloid process of the radius 1.5 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between brachioradialis and tendon of the abductor policis longus.

⚠️ Cautions: Use with caution in patients with radial nerve sensitivity.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm

LU09Great Source

LU09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太淵 (tài yuān)

🎯 Location: At the radial end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias; avoid excessive stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Coughing Blood, Common Cold

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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元 (guān yuán)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication. Bleeding in pregnancy requires obstetric assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Kidney Deficiency

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Press needles · 6 sessions over 6 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039810 ↗
Press Needles
48 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (4 points)

90%

LU05 · LI04 · LI11 · PC03

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

PC03Marsh At The Bend

PC03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲澤 (qū zé)

🎯 Location: On the transverse cubital crease at the ulnar side of the tendon of the biceps brachii.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with median nerve and brachial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Coughing Blood, Palpitations

Text or case report

Needling · 3 sessions over 3 days

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Does Placebo Information Affect the Trial Outcomes and Participant Blinding?. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04182295
Substantiated by a study. LI04, LI11 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039810 ↗
Press Needles
12 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

90%

LU05 · PC02

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

PC02Celestial Spring

PC02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天泉 (tiān quán)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths below level of the anterior axillary fold between 2 heads of the biceps brachii.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with brachial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Chest Fullness, Blood Stagnation

Text or case report

Needling · 1 session

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

The Role of Manual Twirling Acupuncture in Reducing Muscle Pain and Stiffness After Biceps Curling in Healthy Untrained Individuals. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06366555
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
Press Needles
2 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Muscle Soreness:

Points cited for Muscle Soreness

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

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 3
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 3
  • LU05Cubit MarshLung Meridian2 of 3
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 3
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel1 of 3
  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel1 of 3
  • LU07Interrupted SequenceLung Meridian1 of 3
  • LU09Great SourceLung Meridian1 of 3
  • PC02Celestial SpringPericardium Meridian1 of 3
  • PC03Marsh At The BendPericardium Meridian1 of 3
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 3

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.

  • Press needles1 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.