Acupuncture Points for Urolithiasis

16 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

SP06 · SP09

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S339006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP09 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.07.007 ↗
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Protocol (5 points)

100%

KD05 · TB06 · GB34 · LV04 · LV08

KD05Water Spring

KD05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 水泉 (shuǐ quán)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width directly below KD03 in the depression of the medial side of the tuberosity of the calcaneum.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Abdominal Pain, Absent Periods, Uterine Prolapse, Urinary Problems, Menstrual Cramps

TB06Branch Ditch

TB06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 支溝 (zhī gōu)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna on the radial side of the extensor digitorum.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Tinnitus, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal 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

LV04Mound Centre

LV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中封 (zhōng fēng)

🎯 Location: Anterior to the medial malleolus midway between SP05 and ST41 in the depression on the medial side of the tendon of the tibialis anterior.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Jaundice, Qi Deficiency, Heaviness, Numbness, Pain

LV08Spring At The Bend

LV08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲泉 (qū quán)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Shortness of Breath, Knee Pain, Common Cold, Heat, Abdominal Pain

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13633/j.cnki.zjtcm.2023.05.034 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL23 · CV04

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

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元 (guān yuán)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication. Bleeding in pregnancy requires obstetric assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Kidney Deficiency

Study-reported

Moxibustion · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230422-k0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL23 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.07.007 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

SP06 · SP09

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S339006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SP09 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.07.007 ↗
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2 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99

Protocol (8 points)

90%

SP06 · SP15 · BL20 · BL23 · BL28 · KD08 · CV03 · CV04

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ 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: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

SP15Great Horizontal

SP15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大橫 (dà héng)

🎯 Location: 4 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus lateral to the rectus abdominis.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in pregnancy.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Common Cold, Constipation, Qi Stagnation, Damp

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

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

BL28Bladder Shu Point

BL28 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 膀胱俞 (páng guāng shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the 2nd posterior sacral foramen.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Qi Deficiency, Constipation, Abdominal Pain, Swelling

KD08Belief Intersection

KD08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 交信 (jiāo xìn)

🎯 Location: 0.5 thumb widths anterior to the KD07, 2 thumb widths above the KD03 posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Heat, Absent Periods, Swelling, Dysentery

CV03Central Pivot

CV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中極 (zhōng jí)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 4 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication. Empty the bladder before needling.

🛡️ Treats: Absent Periods, Back Pain, Pain, Damp, Edema

CV04Original Qi Gate

CV04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Conception Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 關元 (guān yuán)

🎯 Location: On the anterior midline 3 thumb widths below umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication. Bleeding in pregnancy requires obstetric assessment.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Kidney Deficiency

Text or case report

Needling + Moxibustion · 37 sessions

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988
Substantiated by a study. BL23, CV04 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230422-k0001 ↗
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296 needles for this course · 3 boxes, $59.97

Protocol (4 points)

90%

BL22 · BL23 · BL24 · BL31

BL22Sanjiao Shu Point

BL22 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三焦俞 (sān jiāo shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV05 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Heat

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

BL24Sea Of Qi Shu Point

BL24 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 氣海俞 (qì hǎi shū)

🎯 Location: 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.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Hemorrhoids, Menstrual Cramps, Leg Weakness

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

Text or case report

Needling · 4 sessions

Points used in rotation, a subset each session

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture
Substantiated by a study. BL23 also appears in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230422-k0001 ↗
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16 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Points cited for Urolithiasis

How often each point appears across the 16 entries ranked highest for Urolithiasis. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian8 of 16
  • BL23Kidney Shu PointBladder Meridian7 of 16
  • BL28Bladder Shu PointBladder Meridian6 of 16
  • CV03Central PivotConception Vessel6 of 16
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian5 of 16
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel3 of 16
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian2 of 16
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 16
  • BL22Sanjiao Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 16
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu PointBladder Meridian1 of 16
  • BL31Upper Bone HoleBladder Meridian1 of 16
  • BL39Outside Of The CreaseBladder Meridian1 of 16

Registered, results not reported

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

SP06 · KD03 · KD06 – doi:10.1186/s12894-025-01993-3

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.

  • Needling2 of 5
  • Moxibustion1 of 5
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 5

Sessions: the 4 studies that gave a count ran a median of 6 (middle half 1 to 14).

Course: the 4 studies that gave a length ran a median of 2 days (middle half 1 day to 9 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.