Acupuncture Points for Piriformis Syndrome

4 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL62 · GB30 · GB34

BL62Extending Vessel

BL62 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 申脈 (shēn mài)

🎯 Location: In the depression the directly below external malleolus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

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

Needling

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB30 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1897807 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL30 · BL54 · GB30

BL30White Ring Shu Point

BL30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 白環俞 (bái huán shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain

BL54Lowermost In Order

BL54 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 秩邊 (zhì biān)

🎯 Location: On the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen 3 thumb widths lateral to the median sacral crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Kidney Deficiency, Pain, Urinary Retention, Hemorrhoids, Sciatica

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 6 sessions over 2 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1897807 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB30 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Press Needles
18 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Single-point entry

100%

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 10 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250403-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB30 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Press Needles
10 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Single-point entry

100%

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 10 sessions

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.190672 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB30 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Press Needles
10 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Piriformis Syndrome:

Points cited for Piriformis Syndrome

How often each point appears across the 4 entries ranked highest for Piriformis Syndrome. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian4 of 4
  • BL30White Ring Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL54Lowermost In OrderBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • BL62Extending VesselBladder Meridian1 of 4
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian1 of 4

Tested, no effect found

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

BL36 · GB29 · GB30 · GB34 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

BL54 · GB30 · GB34 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – No better than another treatment

BL40 · BL54 · GB29 · GB30 · GB34 · GB39 – doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.190672 – No better than another treatment

How the studies delivered it

What the 4 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling4 of 4

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 10 (middle half 8 to 10).

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

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