Acupuncture Points for Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

11 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST09 · GV20

ST09Man's Prognosis

ST09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 人迎 (rén yíng)

🎯 Location: Level with tip of the adam's apple where pulsation of the common the carotid artery is palpable on the anterior border of the scm muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near carotid artery; avoid deep needling.

🛡️ Treats: Asthma, Dizziness, Chest Fullness, Vomiting, Swelling

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Needling + Moxibustion

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v12.i19.3676 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GV20 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16367/j.issn.1003-5028.2014.10.087 ↗
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Protocol (8 points)

100%

ST36 · BL10 · PC06 · GB20 · GB21 · GV14 · GV16 · GV20

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

BL10Celestial Pillar

BL10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天柱 (tiān zhù)

🎯 Location: 1.3 thumb widths lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline and in the depression on the lateral aspect of the trapezius.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Epilepsy, Nasal Congestion

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

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GB21Shoulder Well

GB21 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩井 (jiān jǐng)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax. 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: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Kidney Deficiency, Depression

GV14Great Vertebra

GV14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大椎 (dà zhuī)

🎯 Location: Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with C7 vertebra.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shortness of Breath, Weakness, Heat, Chest Fullness

GV16Wind Mansion

GV16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風府 (fēng fǔ)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline directly below external occipital protuberance in the depression the between trapezius of the both sides.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution; proximity to foramen magnum.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Heat Chest, Anxiety, Sweating, Dizziness

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.16367/j.issn.1003-5028.2014.10.087 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL10, GB20 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 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

BL10 · GB20

BL10Celestial Pillar

BL10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天柱 (tiān zhù)

🎯 Location: 1.3 thumb widths lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline and in the depression on the lateral aspect of the trapezius.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Epilepsy, Nasal Congestion

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

Study-reported

Needling

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL10, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16367/j.issn.1003-5028.2014.10.087 ↗
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Protocol (3 points)

100%

XB02C4 · XB02C5 · XB02C6

XB02C4Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C4

XB02C4 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fourth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02C5Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C5

XB02C5 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fifth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02C6Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C6

XB02C6 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the sixth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

Study-reported

Needling

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Protocol (5 points)

100%

BL10 · GB20 · XB02C4 · XB02C5 · XB02C6

BL10Celestial Pillar

BL10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天柱 (tiān zhù)

🎯 Location: 1.3 thumb widths lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline and in the depression on the lateral aspect of the trapezius.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Epilepsy, Nasal Congestion

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

XB02C4Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C4

XB02C4 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fourth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02C5Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C5

XB02C5 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the fifth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

XB02C6Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C6

XB02C6 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Back

🇨🇳 Chinese: 華佗夾脊 (huà tuó jiā jǐ)

🎯 Location: 0.5 - 1 thumb width lateral to the depressions below the spinous processes of the sixth cervical vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near spinal cord; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Circulation Blood, Neck Disorder, Regulate Six Fu, Regulate Five Zang

Study-reported

Needling

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL10, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.16367/j.issn.1003-5028.2014.10.087 ↗
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Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI11 · LI14 · LI16 · TB15

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

LI14Upper Arm Prominence

LI14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臂臑 (bì nào)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting LI11 and LI15, 7 thumb widths above the LI11 at the insertion of the deltoid muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth to avoid nerve damage.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Redness, Swelling, Pain, Goiter

LI16Great Bone

LI16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨骨 (jù gǔ)

🎯 Location: In the upper aspect of the shoulder in the depression the between acromial extremity of the clavicle and scapular spine.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Epilepsy, Goiter

TB15Heavenly Bone Hole

TB15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天髎 (tiān liáo)

🎯 Location: Midway between GB21 and SI13 on the superior angle of the scapula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Heat, Chest Fullness, Shoulder Pain, Pain

Study-reported

Needling

Improved from baseline; no control group

Source prints LI 14 for Hegu; Hegu is LI 4

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency:

Points cited for Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

How often each point appears across the 11 entries ranked highest for Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • BL10Celestial PillarBladder Meridian5 of 11
  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian5 of 11
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel5 of 11
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 11
  • PC06Inner GatePericardium Meridian3 of 11
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian3 of 11
  • SP04Grandfather GrandsonSpleen Meridian2 of 11
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian2 of 11
  • ST40Abundant BulgeStomach Meridian2 of 11
  • ST44Inner CourtStomach Meridian2 of 11
  • XB02C4Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C4Extra Points: Back2 of 11
  • XB02C5Hua Tuo's Para-Vertebral Point - C5Extra Points: Back2 of 11

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.

  • Needling3 of 5
  • Moxibustion1 of 5
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 5

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

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