Acupuncture Points for Osteoarthritis Knee

205 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST26 · SP15 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12

Point 1 of 5

ST26Outer Mound

ST26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外陵 (wài líng)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV07.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Absent Periods, Pain, Shan Disorder

SP15Great Horizontal

SP15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大橫 (dà héng)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus lateral to the rectus abdominis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Qi Stagnation, Damp

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

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60075-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. CV04, CV06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2012/372670 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST34 · ST35 · SP10 · GB33 · GB34

Point 1 of 5

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

GB33Yang Knee Gate

GB33 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膝陽關 (xī yáng guān)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths above the GB34 lateral to the knee joint in the depression above the external epicondyle of the femur.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in acute knee injury.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Redness, Swelling, Qi Leg, Disease Knee

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60075-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST35, SP10, GB33, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/182528 ↗

Protocol (10 points)

100%

ST26 · ST34 · ST35 · SP10 · SP15 · GB33 · GB34 · CV04 · CV06 · CV12

Point 1 of 10

ST26Outer Mound

ST26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外陵 (wài líng)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV07.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Absent Periods, Pain, Shan Disorder

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

SP15Great Horizontal

SP15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大橫 (dà héng)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus lateral to the rectus abdominis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Qi Stagnation, Damp

GB33Yang Knee Gate

GB33 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膝陽關 (xī yáng guān)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths above the GB34 lateral to the knee joint in the depression above the external epicondyle of the femur.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in acute knee injury.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Redness, Swelling, Qi Leg, Disease Knee

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

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

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60075-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST35, SP10, GB33, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/182528 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST35 · ST36 · SP06 · SP09 · SP10 · GB34

Point 1 of 6

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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

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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(12)60010-7 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST35, ST36, SP06, SP09, SP10, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/182528 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST34 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · BL40 · BL57

Point 1 of 6

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ 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

BL40Middle Of The Crease

BL40 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 委中 (wěi zhōng)

🎯 Location: Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in weakness/fatigue; avoid strong stimulation.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain

BL57Mountain Support

BL57 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承山 (chéng shān)

🎯 Location: On the posterior midline of the leg between BL40 and BL60 in the pointed depression the formed below gastrocnemius belly when leg is stretched or heel is lifted.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Pain, Rectal Prolapse, Malaria, Hemorrhoids

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(12)60010-7 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST36, SP09, SP10, BL40, BL57 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2013/182528 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST35 · SP10 · GB34

Point 1 of 3

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
Click to enlarge

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🗺️ 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

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60028-x ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST35, SP10, 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(09)60075-3 ↗
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Points cited for Osteoarthritis Knee

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

  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian35 of 50
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian31 of 50
  • ST35Calf's NoseStomach Meridian31 of 50
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian29 of 50
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian27 of 50
  • ST34Ridge MoundStomach Meridian26 of 50
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian11 of 50
  • LV08Spring At The BendLiver Meridian9 of 50
  • GB33Yang Knee GateGallbladder Meridian8 of 50
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian8 of 50
  • BL39Outside Of The CreaseBladder Meridian6 of 50
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian6 of 50

Registered, results not reported

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

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · XL05A – doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102523

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · XL05A – doi:10.1016/j.jams.2012.01.007

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · XL05A – doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-59

ST34 · ST35 · SP10 · XL02 · XL05A – doi:10.1016/J.WJAM.2019.05.010

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · XL05A – doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240902-k0001

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · GB34 · XL05A – doi:10.3748/wjg.v31.i18.105495

ST34 · ST35 · SP10 · XL05A – doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0636-y

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · GB34 · XL02 · XL05A – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2026-124004

How the studies delivered it

What the 38 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling18 of 38
  • Moxibustion7 of 38
  • Electroacupuncture6 of 38
  • Laser1 of 38
  • Acupressure1 of 38

Sessions: the 20 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 10 to 12).

Course: the 22 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 4 weeks to 45 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.