Acupuncture Points Explained: How Points Are Named, Numbered and Located
How acupuncture points are named, numbered and located, what the WHO standard changed, how reliably points can be found, and what research says about whether points are special.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What an acupuncture point is
In the acupuncture tradition, an acupuncture point (also called an acupoint) is a named place on the body surface that is described as lying along a channel, or meridian. Points are part of a traditional map of the body, not a biomedical finding. For the channels themselves see Meridians and Channels in Acupuncture and Qi, Yin and Yang, Five Phases and Meridians as Traditional Concepts. For the practice as a whole see What Is Acupuncture?.This page is information only. It explains the naming system and the research. It does not teach anyone how to locate or stimulate a point, and it is not a guide for treating yourself.
How points are named and numbered
Most points carry a channel name plus a number, written as a short code. For example, the research papers we read refer to Large Intestine 4 (LI4), Lung (LU), Pericardium (PC), Bladder (BL) and Gallbladder (GB). [1][2] Most points also have a name in Chinese, often written in pinyin (the spelling of Chinese sounds in Latin letters), such as Hegu for LI4. [3] Our guide to Pinyin names in TCM explains the spelling.A WHO book called Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature, second edition (1993), lists a standard name for each classical point, a brief explanation of each name and a multilingual list of names. [4] A 2023 anatomy paper notes that the Chinese names often give information in both their literal and figurative meanings about location and traditional use. [5] For the 2008 WHO location standard see Standardized Point Names: The WHO Standard Nomenclature and Location.
How locations are described
Traditional descriptions use body landmarks and a proportional measuring unit called the cun (sometimes translated "Chinese inch"). The WHO location standard separates a proportional bone cun (B-cun) from a finger cun (F-cun) so that measurements are more exact. [4]Finding a point reliably is harder than it sounds:
- A study of Korean patients found finger-cun measurements differed significantly from proportional measurements, and the authors concluded the finger-cun method is unreliable. [6]
- A 2019 systematic review of 14 studies found considerable variation in point location among qualified medical acupuncturists, and found the directional method significantly inaccurate and imprecise in every study that tested it. It found no study of non-medical acupuncturists. [7]
- A cadaver study of 25 forearms and hands found a large difference of 1.5 to 3 cun between the two cun systems, which seemed to account for an error in locating one forearm point. [1]
What research says about points
The table keeps four different questions apart. Evidence labels: insufficient evidence, preclinical, promising but limited.| Question | What the source found | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Are points separate organs or tissues? | A 2024 paper states there is no clear evidence that points and meridians are separate organs or specific tissues [8] | Insufficient evidence |
| Is there a structure under the skin at points? | A review of decades of work looked at skin, nerves, vessels and cell types such as mast cells, and said understanding still lags behind what is needed [9] | Insufficient evidence |
| Do points line up with connective tissue? | In sections through human arms, about 80% of point sites matched connective tissue planes [10] | Promising but limited (a hypothesis, not proof meridians exist) |
| Do skin cells react to needling? | A review reports skin mast cells are dense at points and are activated by needle manipulation in experiments, mostly from the authors' own laboratories [11] | Preclinical |
| Does exact point location matter for benefit? | See the next section | Mixed |
More detail is on Do Acupuncture Points Exist?.
Does the exact point matter?
The large pain data set shows acupuncture beat sham acupuncture by a small margin (close to 0.2 standard deviations) and beat no acupuncture by more (close to 0.5). The authors say factors beyond needling at correct point locations contribute to the effect, though the result cannot be explained by placebo alone. [12] A sham-controlled trial cannot fully separate point-specific effects from touch, expectation and the needle itself; see Sham Acupuncture and Placebo Controls. NCCIH reports that in a small combined analysis for myofascial pain, needling trigger points helped pain but needling traditional acupuncture points did not (4 studies, 80 participants). [13]Frequently asked questions
How many acupuncture points are there?
The 2008 WHO location standard covers 361 points. [4]
What does LI4 mean?
It is short for Large Intestine 4, the fourth numbered point on the Large Intestine channel. [1] See Large Intestine 4 (Hegu).
Are acupuncture points the same on every chart?
Mostly, but charts can differ. WHO worked to settle disputed locations and agreed on 86 of 92 controversial points, leaving 6 open. [4]
Can I find my own points from a chart?
Research suggests even trained practitioners vary in point location. [7] Do not use charts to place needles. Ask a licensed practitioner or your clinician about any technique.
Is there scientific proof acupuncture points exist?
Not as separate structures. Some anatomical and cell studies are suggestive, but no single structure has been shown. [8][10]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.