Acupuncture Points for Weight Loss

11 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Weight Loss:

Points cited for Weight Loss

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

  • CV12Stomach CentreConception Vessel8 of 11
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian7 of 11
  • SP06Three Yin IntersectionSpleen Meridian5 of 11
  • ST25Celestial PivotStomach Meridian5 of 11
  • BL20Spleen Shu PointBladder Meridian4 of 11
  • CV06Sea Of QiConception Vessel4 of 11
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian4 of 11
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian4 of 11
  • SP04Grandfather GrandsonSpleen Meridian4 of 11
  • BL13Lung Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 11
  • CV04Original Qi GateConception Vessel3 of 11
  • KD03Great StreamKidney Meridian3 of 11

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (4 points)

100%

GB08 · GB09 · GV23 · GV24

Point 1 of 4

GB08Leading Valley

GB08 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 率谷 (shuài gǔ)

🎯 Location: Superior to the apex of the auricle 1.5 thumb widths within the hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications for head points.

🛡️ Treats: Phlegm, Dizziness, Vomiting, Wind, Pain

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 6 sessions

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.034 ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.

Protocol (9 points)

100%

ST25 · ST36 · ST37 · SP04 · SP06 · KD03 · LV03 · CV06 · CV12

Point 1 of 9

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Moxibustion + Needling · a 12-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2015/938054 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST25, ST36, SP04, SP06, LV03, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/1534735418823269 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

ST25 · CV06 · CV12

Point 1 of 3

ST25Celestial Pivot

ST25 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天樞 (tiān shū)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths lateral to the center of the umbilicus.

⚠️ Cautions: Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency – treatment here is adjunctive at most and must never delay surgical assessment. Avoid needling over the gravid uterus after the first trimester; where used in pregnancy, needle shallowly and only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture + Moxibustion · a 12-week course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1038/srep36636 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST25, CV06, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2015/938054 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

LI04 · SP03 · HT07 · CV12

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 + Moxibustion · a 16-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.imr.2013.12.004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, HT07, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1177/1534735418823269 ↗

Protocol (11 points)

100%

LU01 · LU09 · LI18 · ST36 · BL13 · BL20 · BL23 · KD03 · GB12 · CV04 · CV12

Point 1 of 11

LU01Central Mansion

LU01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中府 (zhōng fǔ)

🎯 Location: Laterosuperior to the sternum 1 thumb width below LU02 at the level of the 1st intercostal space 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle obliquely or laterally, never deeply or medially – risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 12 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2341-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, KD03, CV12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2015/938054 ↗

Protocol (14 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · ST25 · ST36 · SP04 · SP06 · SP07 · HT07 · KD06 · PC06 · LV03 · CV12 · CV13 · GV20

Point 1 of 14

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 · 8 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1177/1534735418823269 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, ST25, ST36, SP04, SP06, HT07, KD06, PC06, 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.61912 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 9 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling8 of 9
  • Moxibustion4 of 9
  • Electroacupuncture2 of 9

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 8 to 21).

Course: the 8 studies that gave a length ran a median of 12 weeks (middle half 11 weeks to 104 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.