Acupuncture Points for Tennis Elbow

15 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI10 · LI11

LI10Arm Three Miles

LI10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.jams.2017.06.007 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI10, LI11 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.0000000000015937 ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · LI10

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

LI10Arm Three Miles

LI10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop

Study-reported

Needling + Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.4.157 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI10 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LU05 · LI10 · LI11 · LI12

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

LI10Arm Three Miles

LI10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop

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

LI12Elbow Bone Hole

LI12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肘髎 (zhǒu liáo)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is on the lateral side of the upper arm 1 thumb width above the LI11 on the border of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Excessive Sleepiness, Channel Stagnation, Shoulder Numbness, Contraction

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015937 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LU05, LI10, LI11, LI12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/0304-3959(90)91078-W ↗
Press Needles
48 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST38 · GB34

ST38Ribbon Opening

ST38 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 條口 (tiáo kǒu)

🎯 Location: 8 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Common Cold, Abdominal Pain, Numbness, Swelling, Pain

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 6 sessions over 2 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3727/036012902816026040 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI04 · LI10 · LV03

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

LI10Arm Three Miles

LI10 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

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

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture + Moxibustion

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI10 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.4.157 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · LI12

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

LI12Elbow Bone Hole

LI12 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肘髎 (zhǒu liáo)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is on the lateral side of the upper arm 1 thumb width above the LI11 on the border of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Excessive Sleepiness, Channel Stagnation, Shoulder Numbness, Contraction

Study-reported

Laser · 10 sessions

No better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, LI12 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.0000000000015937 ↗
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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 Tennis Elbow

How often each point appears across the 15 entries ranked highest for Tennis Elbow. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian10 of 15
  • LI10Arm Three MilesLarge Intestine Meridian9 of 15
  • LI12Elbow Bone HoleLarge Intestine Meridian6 of 15
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian4 of 15
  • LU05Cubit MarshLung Meridian4 of 15
  • TB05Outer GateTriple Burner Meridian3 of 15
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian1 of 15
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian1 of 15
  • SI11Heavenly GatheringSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 15
  • ST38Ribbon OpeningStomach Meridian1 of 15
  • ST42Surging YangStomach Meridian1 of 15

Tested, no effect found

These studies tested the points below for Tennis Elbow and found no effect. They are not counted above.

LU05 · LI04 · LI10 · LI11 · TB05 – doi:10.1155/2016/3079247 – No better than another treatment

LU05 · LI04 · LI10 · LI12 · SP06 · TB05 · GB34 – doi:10.1186/s13020-017-0143-z – No better than another treatment

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Tennis Elbow and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

LU05 · LI04 · LI10 · LI11 · LI12 · TB05 – doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-174

LI10 · LI11 – doi:10.1155/2016/1868659

How the studies delivered it

What the 11 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling6 of 11
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 11
  • Laser2 of 11
  • Acupressure1 of 11
  • Moxibustion1 of 11
  • Point injection1 of 11

Sessions: the 6 studies that gave a count ran a median of 10 (middle half 7 to 10).

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

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