Acupuncture Points for Obesity

117 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · SP09

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2015/384389 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP09 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2021/5555028 ↗
Press Needles
2 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · ST44 · SP06 · PC06

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

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, 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

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

ST44Inner Court

ST44 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內庭 (nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Pain

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Laser · 24 sessions over 8 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2016/9365326 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-023-03861-8 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · ST44 · SP06 · PC06

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

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, 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

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

ST44Inner Court

ST44 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內庭 (nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Pain

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

PC06Inner Gate

PC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內關 (nèi guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe deficiency conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Dizziness, Spleen Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Laser · 24 sessions over 8 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2016/9365326 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-023-03861-8 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST25 · ST36 · CV04 · CV12

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, 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

CV12Stomach Centre

CV12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中脘 (zhōng wǎn)

🎯 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.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Common Cold, Depression

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 24 sessions over 8 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240521-k0002 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST25, ST36, CV04, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-024-04158-0 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06

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

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 24 sessions over 12 weeks

Did better than a waitlist

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nep145 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2016/9365326 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST28 · SP14 · CV04

ST28Waterway

ST28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水道 (shuǐ dào)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.

⚠️ 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: Constipation, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Edema, Urinary Retention

SP14Abdominal Bind

SP14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腹結 (fù jié)

🎯 Location: 13 thumb widths below SP15, 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline, on the lateral side of the rectus abdominis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Dysentery

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

Study-reported

Point injection + Moxibustion · 5 sessions over 30 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016996 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST28, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2021/5555028 ↗
Blood Pressure, Weight and Sweating
The metabolic group, which no other mini-guide covers. Three conditions. – $5, free updates for life

Points cited for Obesity

How often each point appears across the 50 entries ranked highest for Obesity. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian35 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian31 of 50
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian22 of 50
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel21 of 50
  • ST40Abundant BulgeStomach Meridian16 of 50
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian15 of 50
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel14 of 50
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel13 of 50
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian12 of 50
  • ST28WaterwayStomach Meridian11 of 50
  • CV09Water SeparationConception Vessel10 of 50
  • ST44Inner CourtStomach Meridian10 of 50

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Obesity and found no effect. They are not counted above.

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · SP06 · SP09 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.3727/036012917x14908026364990 – No better than another treatment

ST25 · ST34 · ST40 · CV09 · CV12 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

LI04 · BL21 · BL25 · BL27 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Obesity and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST28 · ST36 · SP06 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0867-y

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · ST44 · SP06 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1046-x

ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · SP06 · SP15 · GB26 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1458-2

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST28 · ST36 · ST40 · SP06 · SP09 · KD07 · KD13 · GB34 · LV03 · CV03 · CV04 · CV06 · CV09 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s40814-020-00591-4

ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · SP06 · SP09 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06725-8

LI04 · LI11 · ST21 · ST25 · ST26 · ST28 · ST29 · ST36 · ST40 · SP14 · SP15 · CV10 · CV11 · CV12 · CV13 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075873

LI04 · ST36 · SP06 · GB34 · LV03 – doi:10.3389/fpain.2026.1886313

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · ST44 · SP06 · CV04 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1046-x

CV08 · GV04 – doi:10.1155/2022/9255017

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · ST44 · SP06 · PC06 – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0748-4

ST25 · SP15 · GB26 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3730-8

ST25 · ST36 · BL21 · TB06 · CV12 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023390 – Alternates with 1 other formula across sessions in this trial

LI11 · ST24 · ST40 · BL20 · CV09 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023390 – Alternates with 1 other formula across sessions in this trial

LI11 · ST25 · ST40 · SP06 · BL18 · BL20 · BL21 · CV04 · CV06 · CV10 · CV12 · GV20 · XB03 · XH03 – doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.932102

ST25 · ST36 · ST40 · SP06 · SP09 · SP15 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083158

LI04 · LI10 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-095914 – Source names the second point Quchi (LI11) but prints LI 10 and describes its location

How the studies delivered it

What the 40 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electroacupuncture9 of 40
  • Needling6 of 40
  • Laser6 of 40
  • Moxibustion4 of 40
  • Thread embedding4 of 40
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 40
  • Point injection1 of 40
  • Acupressure1 of 40
  • Press needles1 of 40

Sessions: the 21 studies that gave a count ran a median of 20 (middle half 8 to 24).

Course: the 28 studies that gave a length ran a median of 8 weeks (middle half 30 days to 12 weeks).

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

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