Acupuncture Points for Post-operative Pain

6 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL57 · GV01 · GV02 · GV04

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

GV01Long Strength

GV01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 長強 (cháng qiáng)

🎯 Location: Midway between tip of the coccyx and anus, locate point with patient in the prone position.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in spinal conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Anxiety, Common Cold, Pain, Damp

GV02Lumbar Point

GV02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰俞 (yāo shū)

🎯 Location: In the hiatus of the sacrum.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacral conditions.

🛡️ Treats: Hip Pain, Epilepsy, Hemorrhoids, Lower Back Pain, Spontaneous Sweating

GV04Life Gate

GV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 命門 (mìng mén)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Anxiety, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

Study-reported

Acupressure · 3 sessions

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.joim.2020.08.001 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
Press Needles
12 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · CV04 · CV12

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

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

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:10.19542/j.cnki.1006-5180.2402-052 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16440/J.CNKI.1674-8166.2025.08.33 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · PC06 · GV20

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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

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

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

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.16440/J.CNKI.1674-8166.2025.08.33 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.19542/j.cnki.1006-5180.2402-052 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

90%

LI04 · LI11 · ST44

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

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

ST44Inner Court

ST44 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 內庭 (nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: Proximal to the web margin the between 2nd and 3rd toes in the depression the distal and lateral to the 2nd metatarsodigital joint.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Tinnitus, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Pain

Text or case report

Needling · 3 sessions

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Acupuncture for Post-tonsillectomy Pain Control in Children. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01285687
Substantiated by a study. LI04, LI11 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.16440/J.CNKI.1674-8166.2025.08.33 ↗
Press Needles
9 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (3 points)

90%

LI04 · ST36 · LV03

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

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

宁凤华贾鹏宋美美. 足三里、太冲、合谷穴位针刺辅助治疗对全麻妇科腹腔镜手术后康复效果、中医证候积分和并发症的影响. 临床误诊误治 ., 2024 [CNKI]
Substantiated by a study. LI04, ST36 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.16440/J.CNKI.1674-8166.2025.08.33 ↗

Single-point entry

90%

XL07Appendix Point

XL07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 闌尾 (lán wěi)

🎯 Location: Approximately 2 thumb widths distal to the zusanli st-36 on the right leg.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Appendicitis, Benefit Digestion, Paralysis Leg, Appendicitis Acute

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Adib-Hajbaghery Mohsen et al.. Effect of acupressure of Ex-Le7 point on pain, nausea and vomiting after appendectomy: A randomized trial.. Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2013
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Points cited for Post-operative Pain

How often each point appears across the 6 entries ranked highest for Post-operative Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 6
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian3 of 6
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 6
  • BL57Mountain SupportBladder Meridian1 of 6
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel1 of 6
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel1 of 6
  • GV01Long StrengthGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • GV02Lumbar PointGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • GV04Life GateGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel1 of 6
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 6
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian1 of 6

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure1 of 3

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

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