# Acupoints for Swollen Knee

20 sourced protocols for Swollen Knee. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/swollen-knee

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-32 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2012/696498 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST35 (Calf's Nose), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04508-7 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04508-7 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | ST35 (Calf's Nose), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP10 (Sea Of Blood) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2020/2948292 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST35 (Calf's Nose), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.1026441 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST35 (Calf's Nose), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), BL24 (Sea Of Qi Shu Point), BL25 (Large Intestine Shu Point), BL40 (Middle Of The Crease), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), LV08 (Spring At The Bend), LV09 (Yin Wrapping) | – | – | doi:10.2147/JPR.S453133 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 8 | ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.1155/prm/1270985 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 9 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), GV03 (Yang Lumbar Gate) | – | – | doi:10.1007/s10067-025-07497-7 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 10 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST35 (Calf's Nose), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.2196/75547 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 11 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.13057/smj.v3i1.39378 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 12 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | doi:10.13862/j.cn43-1446/r.2023.06.028 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 13 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST35 (Calf's Nose), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), XL05A (Medial Eye Of The Knee) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.1026441 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 14 | ST32 (Crouching Rabbit), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), ST37 (Upper Great Hollow), ST40 (Abundant Bulge), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP08 (Earth'S Cure), GB31 (Wind Market), GB39 (Suspended Bell) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190213-00014 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 15 | ST32 (Crouching Rabbit), ST33 (Yin Market), ST34 (Ridge Mound), SP10 (Sea Of Blood) | – | – | Chen Guo-sheng. A Case Report of Diffuse Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis Treated by Fire-needle. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010, 30(2): 143-144 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 16 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | Ding Yu, Wang Yuexiang, Shi Xian, Luo Yun, Gao Yuhong, Pan Jingkun. Effect of ultrasound-guided acupotomy vs electro-acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study. J Tradit Chin Med 2016; 36(4): 444-449 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 17 | ST31 (Thigh Gate), ST32 (Crouching Rabbit), ST38 (Ribbon Opening), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), BL23 (Kidney Shu Point), BL25 (Large Intestine Shu Point), BL37 (Gate Of Abundance), BL57 (Mountain Support), BL60 (Kunlun (Mountains)), KD03 (Great Stream), GB31 (Wind Market), GB39 (Suspended Bell), GB40 (Mound), GB41 (Foot Governor Of Tears), GB42 (Earth Fivefold Convergence), LV03 (Great Surge) | – | – | Mikashima Y, Takagi T, Tomatsu T, Horikoshi M, Ikari K, Momohara S. Efficacy of acupuncture during post-acute phase of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty. J Tradit Chin Med 2012; 32(4): 545-548 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 18 | ST35 (Calf's Nose), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP06 (Three Yin Intersection), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring) | – | – | MEI Zhi-gang, CHENG Chuan-guo, ZHENG Jun-feng. Observations on Curative Effect of High-frequency Electric Sparkle and Point-injection Therapy on Knee Osteoarthritis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011, 31(4): 311-315 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 19 | ST34 (Ridge Mound), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), SP09 (Yin Mound Spring), SP10 (Sea Of Blood), BL40 (Middle Of The Crease), BL57 (Mountain Support) | – | – | MEI Zhi-gang, CHENG Chuan-guo, ZHENG Jun-feng. Observations on Curative Effect of High-frequency Electric Sparkle and Point-injection Therapy on Knee Osteoarthritis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011, 31(4): 311-315 | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 20 | ST35 (Calf's Nose) | – | – | doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1699988 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST34 | Ridge Mound | Stomach Meridian | When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| GB34 | Yang Mound Spring | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. |
| ST35 | Calf's Nose | Stomach Meridian | When knee is flexed point is at the lower border of the patella in the depression the lateral to the patellar ligament. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| BL24 | Sea Of Qi Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 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. |
| BL25 | Large Intestine Shu Point | Bladder Meridian | 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV03 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra. |
| BL40 | Middle Of The Crease | Bladder Meridian | Midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus. |
| LV08 | Spring At The Bend | Liver Meridian | When knee is flexed point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus. |
| LV09 | Yin Wrapping | Liver Meridian | 4 thumb widths above the medial epicondyle of the femur between vastus medialis and sartorius. |
| 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. |
| GV03 | Yang Lumbar Gate | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the level with iliac crest. |
| LI04 | Junction Valley | Large Intestine Meridian | On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. |
| 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. |
| XL05A | Medial Eye Of The Knee | Extra Points: Lower limbs | When the knee is flexed, in the depression medial to the patellar ligament. The medial member of the Xiyan (EX-LE 5) pair; EX-LE 4 (Neixiyan) denotes this point alone. |
| ST32 | Crouching Rabbit | Stomach Meridian | On the line connecting asis and lateral border of the patella 6 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella. |
| ST37 | Upper Great Hollow | Stomach Meridian | 6 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| ST40 | Abundant Bulge | Stomach Meridian | 8 thumb widths superior to the tip of the external malleolus, lateral to the ST38 about 2 finger breadth (middle finger) lateral to the anterior border of the tibia. |
| SP08 | Earth'S Cure | Spleen Meridian | 3 thumb widths below SP09 on the line connecting tip of the medial malleolus and SP09. |
| 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. |
| GB39 | Suspended Bell | Gallbladder Meridian | 3 thumb widths above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula. |
| ST33 | Yin Market | Stomach Meridian | When knee is flexed point is 3 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella on the line joining asis and laterosuperior border of the patella. |
| ST31 | Thigh Gate | Stomach Meridian | On the anterior side of the thigh on the line connecting asis and laterosuperior corner of the patella on the level of the inferior pubis symphasis when thigh is fixed in the depression the lateral to the sartorius. |
| ST38 | Ribbon Opening | Stomach Meridian | 8 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. |
| BL37 | Gate Of Abundance | Bladder Meridian | 6 thumb widths below BL36 on the line joining BL36 and BL40. |
| BL57 | Mountain Support | Bladder Meridian | 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. |
| BL60 | Kunlun (Mountains) | Bladder Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the external malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| KD03 | Great Stream | Kidney Meridian | In the depression the between tip of the medial malleolus and achilles tendon. |
| 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. |
| GB41 | Foot Governor Of Tears | Gallbladder Meridian | Posterior to the 4th metatarsophalangeal joint in the depression the lateral to the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot. |
| GB42 | Earth Fivefold Convergence | Gallbladder Meridian | Posterior to the 4th metatarsophalangeal joint between 4th and 5th metatarsal bones on the medial side of the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot. |
| LV03 | Great Surge | Liver Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. |

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AcuiQ-authored prose (symptom and meridian descriptions, the wiki, the auricular crosswalk) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The assembled protocol compilation is not: build on it with attribution, but do not redistribute it whole as a dataset – https://acuiq.com/terms. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms
