Acupuncture Points for Myofascial Craniomandibular Pain

4 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (9 points)

100%

LI04 · ST06 · ST36 · TB05 · TB17 · TB21 · GB02 · GB34 · 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

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

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

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

TB17Hurricane

TB17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 翳風 (yì fēng)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the lobule of the ear in the depression the between mandible and mastoid process.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near facial nerve.

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

TB21Ear Gate

TB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳門 (ěr mén)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior to the supratragic notch and behind posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with auricular cartilage.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Swelling, Deafness, Headache

GB02Hearing Convergence

GB02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽會 (tīng huì)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the intertragic notch at the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible; point is located with mouth open.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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 · 15 sessions over 5 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32075 ↗
Press Needles
135 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · ST06 · SI19 · TB03 · GB20 · GB34 · LV03 · XH03

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

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

SI19Palace Of Hearing

SI19 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 聽宮 (tīng gōng)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible in the depression the formed when mouth is open.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle with the mouth open, and avoid deep needling towards the tympanic membrane.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Deafness, Epilepsy, Voice Loss, Toothache

TB03Central Islet

TB03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中渚 (zhōng zhǔ)

🎯 Location: When fist is clenched point is on the dorsum of the hand between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones in the depression the proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Heat, Redness

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

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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

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

Study-reported

Laser · 12 sessions over 12 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32075 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

CVC06 · CYC08 · CYC11 · HCS03 · TF10

CVC06Spleen

CVC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾 (pí)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint of a line from Stomach to the notch between Antihelix and Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Indigestion, Menorrhagia, Lumbago, Gastroptosis

CYC08Liver

CYC08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝 (gān)

🎯 Location: In the lateral inferior area of the Cymba Conchae.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in acute hepatitis.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Neurosis, Hypertension, Vertex Headache, Facial Spasm

CYC11Kidney

CYC11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎 (shèn)

🎯 Location: At the superanterior corner of Cymba Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Impotence, Indigestion, Ascites, Nephritis

HCS03Mouth

HCS03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 口 (kǒu)

🎯 Location: At the middle 1/3 part inferior to the Helix Crus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fatigue, Insomnia, Lumbago, Stomatitis, Periodontitis

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Needling · 5 sessions over 5 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32075 ↗
Press Needles
25 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

100%

CVC01 · TF10

CVC01Heart

CVC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心 (xīn)

🎯 Location: A depression which is located at the center of Cavum Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe cardiac conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Hypertension, Arrhythmia, Neurasthenia, Raynaud's Disease, Heart Disease

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Laser · 8 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32075 ↗
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Myofascial Craniomandibular Pain:

Points cited for Myofascial Craniomandibular Pain

How often each point appears across the 4 entries ranked highest for Myofascial Craniomandibular Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian2 of 4
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 4
  • ST06Jaw BoneStomach Meridian2 of 4
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points2 of 4
  • CVC01HeartAuricular Points1 of 4
  • CVC06SpleenAuricular Points1 of 4
  • CYC08LiverAuricular Points1 of 4
  • CYC11KidneyAuricular Points1 of 4
  • GB02Hearing ConvergenceGallbladder Meridian1 of 4
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian1 of 4
  • HCS03MouthAuricular Points1 of 4
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 4

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

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

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