Acupuncture Points for Peripheral Pain

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Peripheral Pain

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Peripheral Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 2
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 2
  • GB42Earth Fivefold ConvergenceGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian1 of 2
  • SI03Back StreamSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST40Abundant BulgeStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • XL10BEight WindsExtra Points: Lower limbs1 of 2
  • XL10CEight WindsExtra Points: Lower limbs1 of 2

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · LV03

Point 1 of 3

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

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

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/2948292 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/15347354221149992 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · ST40 · SI03 · PC06 · GB42 · LV03 · XL10B · XL10C

Point 1 of 8

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

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

SI03Back Stream

SI03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 後谿 (hòu xī)

🎯 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Tinnitus, Jaundice, Common Cold

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

GB42Earth Fivefold Convergence

GB42 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 地五會 (dì wǔ huì)

🎯 Location: Posterior to the 4th metatarsophalangeal joint between 4th and 5th metatarsal bones on the medial side of the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Chest Fullness, Redness, Swelling, Breast Abscess

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

XL10BEight Winds

XL10B acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-44.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

XL10CEight Winds

XL10C acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 八風 (bā fēng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot, between the toes, 0.5 thumb widths proximal to the margin of the web. these points include xingjian liv-2, neiting st-44 & xiaxi gb-45.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in patients with bleeding disorders.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Redness, Swelling, Malaria, Headache

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1177/15347354221149992 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LV03 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/2948292 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 2 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling1 of 2
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 2

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

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