🎯 Location: When fist is clenched point is located in the depression the proximal to the margin of the web between ringer and small fingers at the junction of the red and white skin.
🎯 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.
Corroborated by a second study. SI11, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60025-8 ↗
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the 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.
🎯 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.
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, GB20, GB34, LV03, GV14, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/21649561211021081 ↗
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths above the 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.
Corroborated by a second study. ST24, CV04, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181360 ↗
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST04, ST06, ST07, SI18, TB17 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.019 ↗
🎯 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.
Corroborated by a second study. SI15, TB03, GV14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.01.002 ↗
🎯 Location: When loose fist is made point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and junction of the red and white skin.
🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the neck directly below posterior border of the mastoid process on the level of the mandibular angle and on the posterior border of the scm.
🎯 Location: 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.
⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax. 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.
Corroborated by a second study. SI03, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI14, GB21 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/0964528420961398 ↗
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Neck, Shoulder and Joints
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How the studies delivered it
What the 43 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.
Needling24 of 43
Electroacupuncture7 of 43
Point injection6 of 43
Acupressure4 of 43
Thread embedding1 of 43
Laser1 of 43
Sessions: the 19 studies that gave a count ran a median of 9 (middle half 7 to 12).
Course: the 17 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 3 weeks to 30 days).
After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.
Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.
