Acupuncture Points for Retention Food

9 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

No study in this index covers Retention Food

Every protocol below comes from a clinical text or a website. Nothing here has a published trial behind it, so no two independent sources have been shown to agree. How often that happens

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (5 points)

70%

ST25 · ST36 · CV06 · CV12 · XL25

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

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

CV06Sea Of Qi

CV06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海 (qì hǎi)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 1.5 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.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Constipation, Yang Weakness, Abdominal Bloating

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

XL25Plantar Court / Inner Neiting

XL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 里內庭 (lǐ nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: On the foot palm, in the depression the anterior to the second and third metatarsophalaneal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Hives, Toothache, Neuralgia Trigeminal, Tonsillitis

Website

Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it.

sacredlotus.com ↗

Protocol (3 points)

70%

ST25 · ST36 · XL25

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

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

XL25Plantar Court / Inner Neiting

XL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 里內庭 (lǐ nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: On the foot palm, in the depression the anterior to the second and third metatarsophalaneal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Hives, Toothache, Neuralgia Trigeminal, Tonsillitis

Website

Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it.

sacredlotus.com ↗

Protocol (4 points)

70%

ST36 · PC06 · CV11 · XL25

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

CV11Strengthen The Interior

CV11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 建里 (jiàn lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating, Edema, Heart Pain, Turmoil Disorder

XL25Plantar Court / Inner Neiting

XL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 里內庭 (lǐ nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: On the foot palm, in the depression the anterior to the second and third metatarsophalaneal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Hives, Toothache, Neuralgia Trigeminal, Tonsillitis

Website

Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it.

sacredlotus.com ↗

Protocol (9 points)

70%

ST18 · ST36 · BL17 · BL18 · BL46 · PC06 · CV12 · CV14 · XL25

ST18Breast Root

ST18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 乳根 (rǔ gēn)

🎯 Location: On the chest directly below nipple, on the lower border of the breast, in the 5th intercostal space 4 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in lactating women; avoid direct needling in breast tissue.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Swelling, Breast Abscess, Breast Pain

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

BL17Diaphragm Shu Point

BL17 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膈俞 (gé shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Sweating, Dizziness

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

BL46Diaphragm Gate

BL46 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膈關 (gé guān)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra approximately at the level of the inferior angle of the scapula.

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

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Common Cold, Chest Fullness, Vomiting, Back Pain

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

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

CV14Great Palace Gate

CV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨闕 (jù què)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 6 thumb widths above the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle obliquely downwards and shallowly – deep or upward needling risks the heart and liver. New, worsening or unstable cardiac symptoms need medical assessment before treatment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Phlegm, Palpitations, Jaundice

XL25Plantar Court / Inner Neiting

XL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 里內庭 (lǐ nèi tíng)

🎯 Location: On the foot palm, in the depression the anterior to the second and third metatarsophalaneal joint.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Hives, Toothache, Neuralgia Trigeminal, Tonsillitis

Website

Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it.

sacredlotus.com ↗

Protocol (9 points)

70%

ST36 · SP03 · BL20 · BL21 · CV10 · XU10A · XU10B · XU10C · XU10D

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

SP03Great White

SP03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太白 (tài bái)

🎯 Location: Proximal and inferior to the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Constipation, Heat, Vomiting

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

BL21Stomach Shu Point

BL21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃俞 (wèi shū)

🎯 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

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

XU10AFour Stitches

XU10A acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

XU10BFour Stitches

XU10B acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

XU10CFour Stitches

XU10C acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

XU10DFour Stitches

XU10D acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

Website

Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it.

sacredlotus.com ↗

Protocol (10 points)

70%

ST36 · SP03 · BL20 · BL21 · CV10 · XL03 · XU10A · XU10B · XU10C · XU10D

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

SP03Great White

SP03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太白 (tài bái)

🎯 Location: Proximal and inferior to the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Knee Pain, Constipation, Heat, Vomiting

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

BL21Stomach Shu Point

BL21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃俞 (wèi shū)

🎯 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

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

XL03Hundred Insect Nest

XL03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Lower limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百蟲窩 (bǎi chóng wō)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths proximal to the medial superior border of the patella, in the a tender depression on the bulge of the vastus medialis muscle, 1 thumb width proximal to the xuehai sp-10.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Damp, Heat Blood, Wind Rash, Itchiness Skin

XU10AFour Stitches

XU10A acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

XU10BFour Stitches

XU10B acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

XU10CFour Stitches

XU10C acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

XU10DFour Stitches

XU10D acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 四縫 (sì fèng)

🎯 Location: Four points on the each hand, on the palmer side of the 2nd to the 5th fingers and at the centre of the proximal interphalangeal joints.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Spleen Weakness, Asthma, Food Stagnation, Cough Whooping, Infantile Nutrition Deficiency

Website

Point selection published on a website. Not peer-reviewed – check it before relying on it.

sacredlotus.com ↗
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Retention Food:

Points cited for Retention Food

How often each point appears across the 9 entries ranked highest for Retention Food. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian9 of 9
  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel5 of 9
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian5 of 9
  • XL25Plantar Court / Inner NeitingExtra Points: Lower limbs5 of 9
  • CV10Lower StomachConception Vessel4 of 9
  • BL17Diaphragm Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 9
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 9
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 9
  • BL21Stomach Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 9
  • BL46Diaphragm GateBladder Meridian2 of 9
  • CV14Great Palace GateConception Vessel2 of 9
  • SP03Great WhiteSpleen Meridian2 of 9

How the studies delivered it

None of the studies behind these entries says how the points were stimulated or for how long.

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

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