# Acupoints for Rheumatoid Arthritis

5 sourced protocols for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/rheumatoid-arthritis

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ST36 (Leg Three Miles), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point) | – | – | doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20220088 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | LI05 (Yang Stream), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP05 (Metal Hill), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), HT03 (Lesser Sea), SI05 (Yang Valley), SI08 (Small Sea), BL40 (Middle Of The Crease), BL62 (Extending Vessel), KD06 (Shining Sea), PC07 (Great Mound), TB04 (Yang Pool), TB10 (Heavenly Well), TB14 (Shoulder Bone Hole), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), GB40 (Mound) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.16841/j.issn1003-8450.2022.05.02 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), BL11 (Great Shuttle), BL20 (Spleen Shu Point), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), KD03 (Great Stream), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), GV14 (Great Vertebra) | – | – | Acupuncture Study on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Monitoring Microbiome and Blood. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01619176 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 5 | GB21 (Shoulder Well), GB31 (Wind Market), GV14 (Great Vertebra) | – | – | 周亚婕姚小强 郑先丽李鼎鹏高佳星董莉莉. 敦煌医学灸法治疗类风湿关节炎选穴研究. 中华中医药杂志 ., 2021 [CNKI] | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| BL23 | Kidney Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra. |
| LI05 | Yang Stream | Large Intestine Meridian | On the radial side of the wrist; when thumb is tilted upward it is in the depression the between tendons of the extensor pollicus longus and brevis. |
| LI11 | Pond At The Bend | Large Intestine Meridian | 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. |
| LI15 | Shoulder And Clavicle | Large Intestine Meridian | Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint. |
| SP05 | Metal Hill | Spleen Meridian | In the depression the distal and inferior to the medial malleolus midway between tuberosity of the navicular bone and tip of the medial malleolus. |
| SP09 | Yin Mound Spring | Spleen Meridian | 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. |
| HT03 | Lesser Sea | Heart Meridian | With elbow flexed, at the midpoint of the line connecting medial end of the cubital crease and medial epicondyle of the humerus. |
| SI05 | Yang Valley | Small Intestine Meridian | At the ulnar end of the transverse crease on the dorsal aspect of the wrist in the depression the between styloid process of the ulna and triquetral bone. |
| SI08 | Small Sea | Small Intestine Meridian | When elbow is flexed point is located in the depression the between olecranon of the ulna and medial epicondyle of the humerus. |
| BL40 | Middle Of The Crease | Bladder Meridian | Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus. |
| BL62 | Extending Vessel | Bladder Meridian | In the depression the directly below external malleolus. |
| KD06 | Shining Sea | Kidney Meridian | In the depression the below tip of the medial malleolus. |
| PC07 | Great Mound | Pericardium Meridian | In the middle of the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. |
| TB04 | Yang Pool | Triple Burner Meridian | On the transverse crease of the dorsum of the wrist in the depression the lateral to the tendon of the extensor digitorum communis. |
| TB10 | Heavenly Well | Triple Burner Meridian | When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the about 1 thumb width superior to the olecranon. |
| TB14 | Shoulder Bone Hole | Triple Burner Meridian | On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted. |
| GB34 | Yang Mound Spring | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. |
| GB40 | Mound | Gallbladder Meridian | Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus. |
| SP06 | Three Yin Intersection | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia. |
| SP10 | Sea Of Blood | Spleen Meridian | 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. |
| BL11 | Great Shuttle | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV13 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra. |
| BL20 | Spleen Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra. |
| KD03 | Great Stream | Kidney Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| TB05 | Outer Gate | Triple Burner Meridian | 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna. |
| GV14 | Great Vertebra | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders. |
| GB21 | Shoulder Well | Gallbladder Meridian | 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. |
| GB31 | Wind Market | Gallbladder Meridian | On the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, 7 thumb widths above the transverse popliteal crease; when patient is standing erect with hands close to the sides, point is where tip of the middle finger touches. |

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