Acupuncture Points for Post-cesarean Pain

9 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

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

Electroacupuncture · 4 sessions over 2 days

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100826 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1080/03630242.2024.2428793 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST25 · CV10 · 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

CV10Lower Stomach

CV10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下脘 (xià wǎn)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 2 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Upper Stomach Pain, Nausea, Food Stagnation, Abdominal Fullness, Urine Dark

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

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v12.i21.4527 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · 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

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

Acupressure · 2 sessions

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1080/03630242.2024.2428793 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2024.103102 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · 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

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

Acupressure · 1 session

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.explore.2024.103102 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, SP06, PC06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1080/03630242.2024.2428793 ↗
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3 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (3 points)

100%

HCS02 · TF09 · TF10

HCS02Ear Center

HCS02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 耳中 (支點,零點,迷走神經點) (ěr zhōng ( zhī diǎn , líng diǎn , mí zǒu shén jīng diǎn ))

🎯 Location: At the lower edge of the middle area of the Helix Crus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diabetes, Liver And Gallbladder Diseases Such As Jaundice, Nocturia, Cardiovascular Disorders Such As Bradycardia

TF09Pelvis (Pelvic Cavity)

TF09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 盆腔 (pén qiāng)

🎯 Location: At the center of the triangular fossa where the upper and lower Crus of the Antihelix originates.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Prostatitis, Pelvic Inflammation, In The Lower Abdomen And Dysmenorrhea Pain

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Acupressure · a 3-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.04.006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. TF10 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.08.008 ↗
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Protocol (5 points)

100%

AT12 · CVC01 · IN02 · TF08 · TF10

AT12Nervous Subcortex

AT12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神經皮質下 (shén jīng pí zhì xià)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the lower 1/2 of the interior wall of the Antitragus; in the midpoint between Thalamus and the beginning of the medial lower line of the interior Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Neurosis, Schizophrenia

CVC01Heart

CVC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 心 (xīn)

🎯 Location: A depression which is located at the center of Cavum Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe cardiac conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Hypertension, Arrhythmia, Neurasthenia, Raynaud's Disease, Heart Disease

IN02Ovary

IN02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 卵巢 (luǎn cháo)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the outer edge of the lateral portion of the intertragic notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Infertility, Adnexitis, Functional Metorrhagia, Ovarian Cysts

TF08Uterus (Female) / Male Internal Genital (Male)

TF08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 子宮(女)/ 內生殖器(男) (zǐ gōng ( nǚ )/ nèi shēng zhí qì ( nán ))

🎯 Location: At the front edge of the depression in the Triangular Fossa.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated during pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Leukorrhea, Endometrial Hyperplasia

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Acupressure

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.08.008 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. TF10 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.04.006 ↗
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Points cited for Post-cesarean Pain

How often each point appears across the 9 entries ranked highest for Post-cesarean Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian5 of 9
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 9
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian3 of 9
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points2 of 9
  • AT12Nervous SubcortexAuricular Points1 of 9
  • CV10Lower StomachConception Vessel1 of 9
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 9
  • CVC01HeartAuricular Points1 of 9
  • HCS02Ear CenterAuricular Points1 of 9
  • IN02OvaryAuricular Points1 of 9
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 9
  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian1 of 9

How the studies delivered it

What the 9 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure7 of 9
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 9
  • Needling1 of 9

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 2 (middle half 1 to 2).

Course: the 6 studies that gave a length ran a median of 1 day (middle half 1 day to 2 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.