Acupuncture Points for Osteoarthritis Knee

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 犢鼻 (dú bí)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the lower border of the patella in the depression the lateral to the patellar ligament.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Channel Stagnation, Swollen Knee, Leg Muscle Wasting

🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲泉 (qū quán)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain, Common Cold, Heat, Abdominal Pain

🗺️ 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: 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

🗺️ 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

🗺️ 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: 照海 (zhào hǎi)

🎯 Location: In the depression the below tip of the medial malleolus.

⚠️ 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: Heat Deficiency, Dizziness, Constipation, Chest Fullness, Abdominal Bloating

🗺️ 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: 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: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲泉 (qū quán)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain, Common Cold, Heat, Abdominal Pain

🗺️ 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: 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: 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: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 伏兔 (fú tù)

🎯 Location: On the line connecting asis and lateral border of the patella 6 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Common Cold, Pain, Lower Back Pain, Channel Stagnation

🗺️ 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

🗺️ 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: 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: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 犢鼻 (dú bí)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the lower border of the patella in the depression the lateral to the patellar ligament.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Channel Stagnation, Swollen Knee, Leg Muscle Wasting

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內膝眼 (nèi xī yǎn)

🎯 Location: When the knee is flexed, in the depression medial to the patellar ligament. The medial member of the Xiyan (EX-LE 5) pair; EX-LE 4 (Neixiyan) denotes this point alone.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in acute knee injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Leg Muscle Wasting, Qi Leg, Leg Numbness

🗺️ 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: 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: 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: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 鶴頂 (hè dǐng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the at the midpoint of the superior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Wind, Swelling

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內膝眼 (nèi xī yǎn)

🎯 Location: When the knee is flexed, in the depression medial to the patellar ligament. The medial member of the Xiyan (EX-LE 5) pair; EX-LE 4 (Neixiyan) denotes this point alone.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in acute knee injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Leg Muscle Wasting, Qi Leg, Leg Numbness

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外膝眼 (wài xī yǎn)

🎯 Location: When the knee is flexed, in the depression lateral to the patellar ligament. The lateral member of the Xiyan (EX-LE 5) pair; the same depression as ST35 (Dubi), which is why prescriptions naming both Dubi and Xiyan describe two hollows, not three.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in acute knee injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Leg Muscle Wasting, Qi Leg, Leg Numbness