Acupuncture Points for Postpartum Pain

11 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

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 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.0255-2930.20200202-k0001 ↗
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Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · SP10 · KD12 · KD15

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

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

KD12Great Manifestation

KD12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大赫 (dà hè)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths below umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV03.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Deficiency, Uterine Prolapse, Penis Pain, Genital Pain, Eye Canthus Medial Redness

KD15Central Flow

KD15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中注 (zhōng zhù)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width below umbilicus 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV07.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Stools Dry, Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Dysentery

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 6 sessions over 7 days

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20200202-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04 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 (7 points)

100%

AT12 · CVC06 · CYC01 · IAC03 · TF08 · TF09 · 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

CVC06Spleen

CVC06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾 (pí)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint of a line from Stomach to the notch between Antihelix and Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Indigestion, Menorrhagia, Lumbago, Gastroptosis

CYC01Stomach

CYC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃 (wèi)

🎯 Location: At the area where Helix Crus disappears.

⚠️ Cautions: Adjunctive only – haematemesis, melaena or unremitting epigastric pain needs urgent medical assessment. Strict asepsis: perichondritis of the auricular cartilage is the significant risk with ear needling.

🛡️ Treats: Vomiting, Toothache, Nausea, Belching, Gastritis

IAC03Sympathetic

IAC03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 交感 (jiāo gǎn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the end of the upper edge of the lower Crus of the Antihelix.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Etc, Over Secretion Diseases, Internal Organ Pain, Autonomic Nerve Disorders, Spasms

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

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

Needling · a 5-day course

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.07.010 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Protocol (6 points)

100%

BL23 · BL26 · BL28 · BL31 · BL40 · GB29

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

BL26Original Qi Gate Shu Point

BL26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元俞 (guān yuán shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Lower Back Pain, Bedwetting

BL28Bladder Shu Point

BL28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膀胱俞 (páng guāng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Qi Deficiency, Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Swelling

BL31Upper Bone Hole

BL31 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上髎 (shàng liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum at the midpoint between posterior superior iliac spine and posterior midline just at the 1st posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Common Cold, Vomiting, Back Pain

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

GB29Squatting Bone Hole

GB29 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 居髎 (jū liáo)

🎯 Location: In the depression of the midpoint between anterosuperior iliac spine and prominence of the greater trochanter.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Back Pain, Leg Pain

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000036858 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23 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 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

PC06 · LV03 · GV20

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

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

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

Needling · 10 sessions over 2 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.01.005 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. PC06 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 ↗
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Protocol (6 points)

90%

LI04 · LI11 · ST36 · HT02 · BL43 · GB21

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

HT02Cyan Spirit

HT02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Heart Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 青靈 (qīng líng)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is 3 thumb widths above the medial end of the transverse cubital crease in the groove medial to the biceps brachii.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth; proximity to brachial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Channel Stagnation, Shivering, Rib Pain

BL43Vital Region Shu Point

BL43 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膏肓俞 (gāo huāng shū)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th thoracic vertebra on the spinal border of the scapula.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Phlegm, Asthma, Sweating

GB21Shoulder Well

GB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩井 (jiān jǐng)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax. 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: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Kidney Deficiency, Depression

Text or case report

Acupressure · 2 sessions

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Sisman Mukerrem et al.. The Effect of Acupressure Applied in the Postpartum Weeks 1 and 4 After Cesarean Delivery on Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 2025
Substantiated by a study. LI04 also appears in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1080/03630242.2024.2428793 ↗
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Points cited for Postpartum Pain

How often each point appears across the 11 entries ranked highest for Postpartum Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian5 of 11
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian4 of 11
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian2 of 11
  • AT12Nervous SubcortexAuricular Points1 of 11
  • BL26Original Qi Gate Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 11
  • BL28Bladder Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 11
  • BL31Upper Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 11
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian1 of 11
  • BL43Vital Region Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 11
  • CVC06SpleenAuricular Points1 of 11
  • CYC01StomachAuricular Points1 of 11
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian1 of 11

Tested, no effect found

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

LI04 – doi:10.1002/hsr2.2265 – No better than another treatment

SP06 – doi:10.1002/hsr2.2265 – No better than another treatment

How the studies delivered it

What the 8 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling3 of 8
  • Cupping2 of 8
  • Acupressure1 of 8
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 8

Sessions: the 6 studies that gave a count ran a median of 4 (middle half 3 to 6).

Course: the 6 studies that gave a length ran a median of 5 days (middle half 2 days to 7 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.