Acupuncture Points for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

29 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · SP06 · CV03 · CV04

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

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2011/303198 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, SP06, CV03, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2024.000579 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL32 · BL33

BL32Second Bone Hole

BL32 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 次髎 (cì liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine just at the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Pain, Urinary Retention, Infertility, Sciatica

BL33Middle Bone Hole

BL33 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中髎 (zhōng liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the BL32 just at the 3rd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Pain, Urinary Retention, Infertility

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2019/1439141 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL32, BL33 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2024.000579 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

SP06 · LV03 · CV04

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

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

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

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000018918 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2011/303198 ↗

Protocol (5 points)

100%

SP06 · SP09 · BL33 · BL35 · CV04

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

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

BL33Middle Bone Hole

BL33 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中髎 (zhōng liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the BL32 just at the 3rd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Pain, Urinary Retention, Infertility

BL35Meeting Of Yang

BL35 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 會陽 (huì yáng)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the tip of the coccyx.

⚠️ Cautions: Do not needle into thrombosed or actively inflamed haemorrhoidal tissue, and observe strict asepsis in this region.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Leg Pain, Dysentery, Rectal Prolapse, Hemorrhoids

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

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture + Moxibustion · 18 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030429 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP06, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2011/303198 ↗
Press Needles
90 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST28 · CV02 · CV04

ST28Waterway

ST28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水道 (shuǐ dào)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.

⚠️ 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: Constipation, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Edema, Urinary Retention

CV02Curved Bone

CV02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲骨 (qū gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the midpoint of the upper border of the symphysis pubis.

⚠️ 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: Deficiency, Damp, Fullness, Bedwetting, Painful Urination

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

Study-reported

Needling · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000020376 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST28, CV02, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2024.000579 ↗
Press Needles
24 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (6 points)

100%

ST28 · ST36 · SP06 · CV02 · CV03 · CV04

ST28Waterway

ST28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水道 (shuǐ dào)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below umbilicus 2 thumb widths lateral to the CV04.

⚠️ 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: Constipation, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Edema, Urinary Retention

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

CV02Curved Bone

CV02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲骨 (qū gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the midpoint of the upper border of the symphysis pubis.

⚠️ 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: Deficiency, Damp, Fullness, Bedwetting, Painful Urination

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 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. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

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

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2024.000579 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST28, ST36, SP06, CV02, CV03, CV04 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240322-k0003 ↗
Bladder and Prostate
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:

Points cited for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

How often each point appears across the 29 entries ranked highest for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel15 of 29
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian14 of 29
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel13 of 29
  • BL33Middle Bone HoleBladder Meridian8 of 29
  • CV02Curved BoneConception Vessel7 of 29
  • ST28WaterwayStomach Meridian5 of 29
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 29
  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian3 of 29
  • BL35Meeting Of YangBladder Meridian3 of 29
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian3 of 29
  • BL28Bladder Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 29
  • BL54Lowermost In OrderBladder Meridian2 of 29

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

SP06 · LV03 · CV04 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008338

ST28 · BL23 · BL28 · CV03 · CV06 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030925

BL33 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-211

SP06 · SP09 · BL33 · BL35 · CV04 – doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019678

SP06 · BL32 · BL33 · BL35 – doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080743

How the studies delivered it

What the 16 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electroacupuncture8 of 16
  • Needling7 of 16
  • Moxibustion4 of 16

Sessions: the 11 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 11 to 16).

Course: the 11 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 25 days to 5 weeks).

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

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