Acupuncture Points for Straining Defecation

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Straining Defecation

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

  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • ST37Upper Great HollowStomach Meridian2 of 5
  • BL31Upper Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL32Second Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL33Middle Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • BL34Lower Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 5
  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian1 of 5
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian1 of 5

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · ST37

Point 1 of 2

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

ST37Upper Great Hollow

ST37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上巨虛 (shàng jù xū)

🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Spleen Weakness, Stomach Weakness, Common Cold

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 16 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-423 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, ST37 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2017/1428943 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · ST37

Point 1 of 2

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

ST37Upper Great Hollow

ST37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上巨虛 (shàng jù xū)

🎯 Location: 6 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Spleen Weakness, Stomach Weakness, Common Cold

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · a 4-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2017/1428943 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, ST37 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-423 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL31 · BL32 · BL33 · BL34

Point 1 of 4

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

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

BL34Lower Bone Hole

BL34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下髎 (xià liáo)

🎯 Location: On the sacrum medial and inferior to the BL33 just at the 4th posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in sacroiliac dysfunction.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Constipation, Swelling, Lower Back Pain, Painful Urination

Study-reported

Thread embedding · 6 sessions over 10 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/md.0000000000046143 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Single-point entry

100%

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

Study-reported

Needling · 20 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000284 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Single-point entry

100%

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

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000485 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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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.

  • Electroacupuncture2 of 5
  • Thread embedding1 of 5
  • Needling1 of 5
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 5

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 16 (middle half 11 to 18).

Course: the 4 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 4 weeks to 39 days).

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

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