Acupuncture Points for Traumatic Brain Injury

20 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Traumatic Brain Injury:

Points cited for Traumatic Brain Injury

How often each point appears across the 20 entries ranked highest for Traumatic Brain Injury. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GV26PhiltrumGoverning Vessel11 of 20
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel10 of 20
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian10 of 20
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian10 of 20
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian9 of 20
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian8 of 20
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian6 of 20
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian6 of 20
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian6 of 20
  • KD07Returning FlowKidney Meridian5 of 20
  • BL07Reaching HeavenBladder Meridian4 of 20
  • GB08Leading ValleyGallbladder Meridian4 of 20

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · GV20 · GV26

Point 1 of 4

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2017/8460145 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, GV20, GV26 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.0000000000028959 ↗

Protocol (12 points)

100%

LI04 · ST36 · ST40 · SP06 · KD07 · PC06 · GB20 · GB39 · LV03 · CV09 · GV20 · GV26

Point 1 of 12

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

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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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000028959 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, SP06, PC06, LV03, GV20, GV26 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.7759/cureus.66439 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

PC06 · GV26

Point 1 of 2

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

Electroacupuncture · 14 sessions over 2 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000032885 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. PC06, GV26 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.0000000000028959 ↗

Protocol (10 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST34 · ST36 · SP06 · SP10 · PC06 · LV03 · GV20 · GV26

Point 1 of 10

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling · 37 sessions over 20 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.7759/cureus.66439 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST36, SP06, PC06, LV03, GV20, GV26 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.0000000000028959 ↗

Protocol (9 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · SP06 · BL07 · TB05 · GB08 · GB34 · LV03 · GV20

Point 1 of 9

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling · a 12-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13256-025-05444-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI11, SP06, LV03, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.7759/cureus.66439 ↗

Protocol (12 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST08 · HT07 · BL07 · KD07 · GB08 · GB13 · GB34 · LV02 · GV20 · GV24

Point 1 of 12

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling · a 9-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13256-025-05444-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, KD07, GV20 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.0000000000028959 ↗
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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.

  • Needling8 of 11
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 11

Sessions: the 4 studies that gave a count ran a median of 16 (middle half 14 to 23).

Course: the 7 studies that gave a length ran a median of 3 weeks (middle half 2 weeks to 43 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.