Acupoints
Acupoint locations with WHO-standard names and codes, grouped by meridian. Measurement guidance is at the top.
Measuring acupoints (body-inch method)
- Thumb-width method: the width of the thumb at the interphalangeal joint is about 1 cun
- Two-finger method: the width of the index and middle fingers held together at the middle phalanx of the middle finger is about 1.5 cun
- Four-finger method: the width of four fingers held together at the crease of the middle finger's middle phalanx is about 3 cun
- Cun length varies between people; always use the client's own fingers as the reference
- Bone-landmark measurements: about 8 cun between the nipples, about 12 cun from the elbow crease to the wrist crease, about 16 cun from the back of the knee crease to the outer ankle tip
Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (LU)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Zhongfu (LU1) | LU1 | Upper front of the chest, level with the first intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the front midline |
| Chize (LU5) | LU5 | Above the elbow crease, in the depression on the radial side of the biceps tendon |
| Lieque (LU7) | LU7 | Above the styloid process of the radius, 1.5 cun above the wrist crease on the palm side |
| Taiyuan (LU9) | LU9 | Radial side of the wrist crease on the palm side, where the radial artery pulses |
| Shaoshang (LU11) | LU11 | Radial side of the thumb, about 0.1 cun from the nail corner |
Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming (LI)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Shangyang (LI1) | LI1 | Radial side of the index finger, about 0.1 cun from the nail corner |
| Hegu (LI4) | LI4 | In the web between thumb and index finger, at the highest point of the muscle (avoid during pregnancy) |
| Yangxi (LI5) | LI5 | Radial side of the wrist crease on the back of the wrist, in the depression between two tendons when the thumb is lifted |
| Shousanli (LI10) | LI10 | About 2 cun below Quchi, on the outer forearm |
| Quchi (LI11) | LI11 | Depression at the outer end of the elbow crease when the elbow is bent |
| Jianyu (LI15) | LI15 | Depression below and in front of the acromion when the arm is raised horizontally |
| Yingxiang (LI20) | LI20 | Beside the midpoint of the outer edge of the nostril, in the nasolabial groove |
Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (ST)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sibai (ST2) | ST2 | Looking straight ahead, directly below the pupil, in the depression at the infraorbital foramen |
| Jiache (ST6) | ST6 | About one finger-width above and in front of the angle of the jaw, at the highest point of the masseter when clenching |
| Xiaguan (ST7) | ST7 | Depression between the center of the lower edge of the zygomatic arch and the mandibular notch (with the mouth closed) |
| Tianshu (ST25) | ST25 | 2 cun lateral to the navel (about three finger-widths) |
| Liangqiu (ST34) | ST34 | About 2 cun above the upper outer edge of the patella |
| Dubi (ST35) | ST35 | Depression at the outer side of the lower edge of the patella when the knee is bent (nose of the calf) |
| Zusanli (ST36) | ST36 | About 3 cun below Dubi, one finger-width outside the front edge of the tibia |
| Fenglong (ST40) | ST40 | Outer lower leg, 8 cun above the outer ankle tip, two finger-widths outside the front edge of the tibia |
| Neiting (ST44) | ST44 | On the top of the foot, at the end of the crease between the 2nd and 3rd toes |
Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin (SP)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Yinbai (SP1) | SP1 | Inner side of the big toe, about 0.1 cun from the nail corner |
| Taibai (SP3) | SP3 | Below and behind the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, in the depression at the boundary of red and white skin |
| Sanyinjiao (SP6) | SP6 | About 3 cun above the inner ankle tip, on the back edge of the tibia (avoid during pregnancy) |
| Yinlingquan (SP9) | SP9 | Inner lower leg, in the depression below the lower edge of the inner condyle of the tibia |
| Xuehai (SP10) | SP10 | With the knee bent, about 2 cun above the upper inner edge of the patella, on the muscle bulge |
Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin (HT)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Shaohai (HT3) | HT3 | With the elbow bent, between the inner end of the elbow crease and the medial epicondyle of the humerus |
| Shenmen (HT7) | HT7 | Ulnar end of the wrist crease on the palm side, in the depression on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon |
| Shaochong (HT9) | HT9 | Radial side of the little finger, about 0.1 cun from the nail corner |
Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang (SI)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Shaoze (SI1) | SI1 | Ulnar side of the little finger, about 0.1 cun from the nail corner |
| Houxi (SI3) | SI3 | With the hand in a fist, behind the ulnar side of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint, at the red-white skin boundary |
| Jianzhen (SI9) | SI9 | Below and behind the shoulder joint, 1 cun directly above the posterior axillary fold |
| Tianzong (SI11) | SI11 | Depression near the lower center of the shoulder blade |
| Tinggong (SI19) | SI19 | Depression in front of the middle of the tragus, appearing when the mouth is open |
Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang (BL)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Jingming (BL1) | BL1 | Above the inner eye corner, in the depression on the inner orbital wall |
| Cuanzhu (BL2) | BL2 | Depression at the inner end of the eyebrow, at the supraorbital notch |
| Tianzhu (BL10) | BL10 | Inside the posterior hairline, at the outer edge of the large neck muscle (trapezius) |
| Dazhu (BL11) | BL11 | Below the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral |
| Fengmen (BL12) | BL12 | Below the spinous process of the 2nd thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral |
| Feishu (BL13) | BL13 | About 1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra |
| Xinshu (BL15) | BL15 | Below the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral |
| Geshu (BL17) | BL17 | About 1.5 cun lateral to the 7th thoracic vertebra, roughly level with the lower angle of the shoulder blade |
| Ganshu (BL18) | BL18 | Below the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral |
| Pishu (BL20) | BL20 | Below the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral |
| Weishu (BL21) | BL21 | Below the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral |
| Shenshu (BL23) | BL23 | About 1.5 cun lateral to the 2nd lumbar vertebra, roughly level with the navel at the back |
| Dachangshu (BL25) | BL25 | About 1.5 cun lateral to the 4th lumbar vertebra, on the line joining the highest points of the iliac crests |
| Weizhong (BL40) | BL40 | Midpoint of the crease at the back of the knee |
| Zhibian (BL54) | BL54 | Upper buttock, about 3 cun lateral to the sacrum |
| Chengshan (BL57) | BL57 | Midline of the back of the lower leg, in the fork-shaped depression below the two calf muscle bellies |
| Kunlun (BL60) | BL60 | Depression between the outer ankle tip and the Achilles tendon |
| Zhiyin (BL67) | BL67 | Outer side of the little toe, about 0.1 cun from the nail corner |
Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin (KI)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Yongquan (KI1) | KI1 | On the sole, at the front third, where a depression appears when the toes curl (on the sole; not shown on the diagram) |
| Taixi (KI3) | KI3 | Depression between the inner ankle tip and the Achilles tendon |
| Zhaohai (KI6) | KI6 | 1 cun below the inner ankle tip, in the depression on the lower edge of the inner ankle |
Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin (PC)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Quze (PC3) | PC3 | Middle of the elbow crease, on the ulnar side of the biceps tendon |
| Neiguan (PC6) | PC6 | About 2 cun above the midpoint of the wrist crease, between the two tendons |
| Daling (PC7) | PC7 | Midpoint of the wrist crease on the palm side, between two tendons |
| Laogong (PC8) | PC8 | Center of the palm, between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones, where the tip of the middle finger lands when the hand is clenched |
Triple Energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang (TE)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Waiguan (TE5) | TE5 | Back of the forearm, 2 cun above the wrist crease on the back of the wrist, between the ulna and radius |
| Zhigou (TE6) | TE6 | Back of the forearm, 3 cun above the wrist crease on the back of the wrist, between the ulna and radius |
| Yifeng (TE17) | TE17 | Depression behind the earlobe, between the mastoid process and the angle of the jaw |
| Sizhukong (TE23) | TE23 | Depression at the outer end of the eyebrow |
Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang (GB)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tongziliao (GB1) | GB1 | About 0.5 cun outside the outer eye corner, on the outer orbital rim |
| Shuaigu (GB8) | GB8 | Directly above the ear tip, about 1.5 cun inside the hairline |
| Fengchi (GB20) | GB20 | Depression below the base of the skull, outside the two large neck tendons |
| Jianjing (GB21) | GB21 | Midpoint of the line between Dazhui and the shoulder tip, the highest point of the shoulder |
| Huantiao (GB30) | GB30 | Outer buttock, in the depression above the back of the greater trochanter (easy to find with the hip flexed while lying on the side) |
| Fengshi (GB31) | GB31 | Outer thigh, where the middle fingertip touches when standing with the arms relaxed at the sides |
| Yanglingquan (GB34) | GB34 | Outer lower leg, in the depression in front of and below the head of the fibula |
| Xuanzhong (GB39) | GB39 | 3 cun above the outer ankle tip, on the front edge of the fibula |
| Qiuxu (GB40) | GB40 | In front of and below the outer ankle, in the depression outside the extensor digitorum longus tendon |
Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin (LR)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Xingjian (LR2) | LR2 | On the top of the foot, at the end of the crease between the 1st and 2nd toes |
| Taichong (LR3) | LR3 | Depression between the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones on the top of the foot |
| Zhangmen (LR13) | LR13 | Side of the abdomen, below the free end of the 11th rib |
| Qimen (LR14) | LR14 | Upper front of the chest, 6th intercostal space, 4 cun lateral to the front midline |
Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) (CV)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Zhongji (CV3) | CV3 | On the front midline, 4 cun below the navel |
| Guanyuan (CV4) | CV4 | On the front midline, 3 cun below the navel |
| Qihai (CV6) | CV6 | About 1.5 cun below the navel |
| Shenque (CV8) | CV8 | Center of the navel |
| Zhongwan (CV12) | CV12 | Midpoint between the lower edge of the sternum and the navel |
| Danzhong (CV17) | CV17 | Midline of the front of the chest, midpoint between the nipples |
| Tiantu (CV22) | CV22 | Center of the suprasternal fossa (the notch above the sternum) |
Governing Vessel (Du Mai) (GV)
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Yaoyangguan (GV3) | GV3 | Depression below the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra |
| Mingmen (GV4) | GV4 | Midline of the back below the 2nd lumbar vertebra, roughly opposite the navel |
| Zhiyang (GV9) | GV9 | Depression below the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra |
| Dazhui (GV14) | GV14 | Depression below the most prominent neck bone (7th cervical vertebra) when the head is lowered |
| Fengfu (GV16) | GV16 | 1 cun directly above the midline of the posterior hairline, directly below the occipital protuberance |
| Baihui (GV20) | GV20 | Top of the head, where the midline meets the line between the tips of the two ears |
| Shuigou (GV26) | GV26 | Junction of the upper third and middle third of the philtrum groove |
Extra points
| Acupoint | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sishencong (EX-HN1) | EX-HN1 | On the top of the head, four points each 1 cun in front of, behind, and to each side of Baihui |
| Yintang (EX-HN3) | EX-HN3 | Midpoint of the line between the two inner ends of the eyebrows |
| Taiyang (EX-HN5) | EX-HN5 | Depression about one finger-width behind the point between the eyebrow tail and the outer eye corner |