Acupuncture Points for Sacroiliac Pain

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (11 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · SP12 · BL26 · BL32 · BL33 · BL54 · BL60 · KD11 · GB30 · GV20

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

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

SP12Surging Gate

SP12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 衝門 (chōng mén)

🎯 Location: Superior to the lateral end of the inguinal groove lateral to the pulsating femoral artery at the level of the upper border of the pubis symphasis, 3.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV02.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Abdominal Pain, Blood Stagnation, Pain, Urinary Retention

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

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

BL54Lowermost In Order

BL54 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 秩邊 (zhì biān)

🎯 Location: On the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen 3 thumb widths lateral to the median sacral crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Kidney Deficiency, Pain, Urinary Retention, Hemorrhoids, Sciatica

BL60Kunlun (Mountains)

BL60 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 崑崙 (kūn lún)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon.

⚠️ 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: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Heat, Chest Fullness, Abdominal Pain

KD11Pubic Bone

KD11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 橫骨 (héng gǔ)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths below umbilicus on the superior border of the symphysis pubis 0.5 thumb widths lateral to the CV02.

⚠️ 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: Abdominal Pain, Rectal Prolapse, Uterine Prolapse, Urinary Retention, Benefit Digestion

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

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

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-34 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL26, BL54 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.21037/acr-2025-189 ↗
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Protocol (12 points)

100%

BL23 · BL24 · BL25 · BL26 · BL27 · BL28 · BL29 · BL30 · BL53 · BL54 · GB27 · GB28

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

BL24Sea Of Qi Shu Point

BL24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Hemorrhoids, Menstrual Cramps, Leg Weakness

BL25Large Intestine Shu Point

BL25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸俞 (dà cháng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Abdominal Bloating, Abdominal Pain

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

BL27Small Intestine Shu Point

BL27 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 小腸俞 (xiǎo cháng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the 1st posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Constipation, Dysentery, Urinary Retention, Hemorrhoids

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

BL29Middle Spine Shu

BL29 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中膂俞 (zhōng lǚ shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the 3rd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Abdominal Bloating, Dysentery, Sciatica

BL30White Ring Shu Point

BL30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 白環俞 (bái huán shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain

BL53Bladder Vitals

BL53 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胞肓 (bāo huāng)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths lateral to the median sacral crest at the level of the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Bloating, Pain, Edema, Urinary Retention, Sciatica

BL54Lowermost In Order

BL54 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 秩邊 (zhì biān)

🎯 Location: On the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen 3 thumb widths lateral to the median sacral crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Kidney Deficiency, Pain, Urinary Retention, Hemorrhoids, Sciatica

GB27Fifth Pivot

GB27 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 五樞 (wǔ shū)

🎯 Location: In the lateral side of the abdomen anterior to the superior iliac spine 3 thumb widths below level of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Back Pain, Tenesmus, Uterine Prolapse

GB28Linking Path

GB28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 維道 (wéi dào)

🎯 Location: Anterior and inferior to the anterior superior iliac spine 0.5 thumb widths anterior and inferior to the GB27.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Vomiting, Back Pain, Uterine Prolapse, Stagnation, Shan Disorder

Study-reported

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.21037/acr-2025-189 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23, BL26, BL28 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000036858 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

BL40 · BL54 · GB30

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

BL54Lowermost In Order

BL54 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 秩邊 (zhì biān)

🎯 Location: On the level of the 4th posterior sacral foramen 3 thumb widths lateral to the median sacral crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Kidney Deficiency, Pain, Urinary Retention, Hemorrhoids, Sciatica

GB30Jumping Circle

GB30 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 環跳 (huán tiào)

🎯 Location: At the junction of the lateral ⅓ and medial ⅔ of the distance between prominence of the greater trochanter and hiatus of the sacrum, GV02; when locating point put patient in the lateral recumbent position the with thigh flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with sciatic nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Hip Pain, Pain

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2016.04.006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL54, GB30 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-34 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL57 · PC04

BL57Mountain Support

BL57 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承山 (chéng shān)

🎯 Location: On the posterior midline of the leg between BL40 and BL60 in the pointed depression the formed below gastrocnemius belly when leg is stretched or heel is lifted.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Pain, Rectal Prolapse, Malaria, Hemorrhoids

PC04Cleft Gate

PC04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Pericardium Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 郄門 (xì mén)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist on the line connecting PC03 and PC07 between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Anxiety, Coughing Blood, Vomiting, Blood Stagnation

Study-reported

Needling · 9 sessions over 3 weeks

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240630-0002 ↗
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, BL26, BL28 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.21037/acr-2025-189 ↗
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Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Points cited for Sacroiliac Pain

How often each point appears across the 5 entries ranked highest for Sacroiliac Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL26Original Qi Gate Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 5
  • BL54Lowermost In OrderBladder Meridian3 of 5
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 5
  • BL28Bladder Shu PointBladder Meridian2 of 5
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian2 of 5
  • GB30Jumping CircleGallbladder Meridian2 of 5
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL27Small Intestine Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL29Middle Spine ShuBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL30White Ring Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL31Upper Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 5

How the studies delivered it

What the 5 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling3 of 5
  • Acupressure1 of 5

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

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