Acupuncture Points for Procedural Pain

17 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Procedural Pain

How often each point appears across the 17 entries ranked highest for Procedural Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian12 of 17
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian6 of 17
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian3 of 17
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian3 of 17
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian2 of 17
  • BL21Stomach Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 17
  • BL22Sanjiao Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 17
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 17
  • BL52Willpower RoomBladder Meridian1 of 17
  • BL60Kunlun (Mountains)Bladder Meridian1 of 17
  • BL63Golden GateBladder Meridian1 of 17
  • CVC10ThalamusAuricular Points1 of 17

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · BL60 · KD03

Point 1 of 4

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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1111/apa.13581 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.2147/jpr.s569374 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

BL21 · BL22 · BL23 · BL52 · GB25

Point 1 of 5

BL21Stomach Shu Point

BL21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃俞 (wèi yú)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Vomiting

Study-reported

Laser · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000734 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · HT07 · PC06

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

Study-reported

Acupressure · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.03.004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, HT07, 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.2023.07.001 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · HT07

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

Study-reported

Acupressure · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.04.010 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, HT07 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.pmn.2026.03.004 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · BL63 · PC06 · XH03

Point 1 of 4

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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20200305-k0005 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, 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.pmn.2026.03.004 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · PC06

Point 1 of 2

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/jpr.s569374 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, 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.pmn.2026.03.004 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 14 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure5 of 14
  • Laser3 of 14
  • Needling3 of 14
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin2 of 14
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 14

Sessions: the 14 studies that gave a count ran a median of 1 (middle half 1 to 1).

Course: the 14 studies that gave a length ran a median of 1 day (middle half 1 day to 1 day).

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

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