Acupuncture Points for Spine Pain

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · PC06

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

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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s12871-025-03400-8 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2019.05.013 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

ST36 · BL23 · GV03 · GV14

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

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

GV03Yang Lumbar Gate

GV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰陽關 (yāo yáng guān)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Lower Back Pain, Urine White, Benefit Legs, Benefit Back Lumbar

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2019.05.013 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/s12871-025-03400-8 ↗

Protocol (6 points)

100%

AH01 · AH02 · AH03 · AT10 · CYC11 · TF10

AH01Cervical Vertebrae

AH01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頸椎 (jǐng zhuī)

🎯 Location: Lower 1/5 of the midline of the Antihelix

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near vertebral artery.

AH02Thoracic Vertebrae

AH02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胸椎 (xiōng zhuī)

🎯 Location: At the lower 2/5 and 3/5 part of the midline of the Antihelix

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Thoracic Vertebrae Spondylopathy Sprain In The Thoracic Vertebrae

AH03Lumbar

AH03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腰 (yāo)

🎯 Location: At the upper 2/5 part of the midline of the Antihelix

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Lumbago Caused By Various Reasons

AT10Brain Stem

AT10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腦幹 (nǎo gàn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, right at the notch between the Antihelix and Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Epilepsy, Convulsion, Brain Related Disorders Such As Meningeal Irritation, Liver Wind

CYC11Kidney

CYC11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎 (shèn)

🎯 Location: At the superanterior corner of Cymba Concha.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Impotence, Indigestion, Ascites, Nephritis

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Acupressure · 8 sessions over 4 weeks

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.6641.3953 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Points cited for Spine Pain

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Spine Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 3
  • AH01Cervical VertebraeAuricular Points1 of 3
  • AH02Thoracic VertebraeAuricular Points1 of 3
  • AH03LumbarAuricular Points1 of 3
  • AT10Brain StemAuricular Points1 of 3
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 3
  • CYC11KidneyAuricular Points1 of 3
  • GV03Yang Lumbar GateGoverning Vessel1 of 3
  • GV14Great VertebraGoverning Vessel1 of 3
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 3
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian1 of 3
  • TF10ShenmenAuricular Points1 of 3

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 3
  • Acupressure1 of 3

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

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