Skip to main content

Table 2 Acupoints used in the true acupuncture group in the Acupause study (Unilateral)

From: Acupuncture for menopausal vasomotor symptoms: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Acupoint (standard abbreviation/Chinese nomenclature)

Location

Indication

Depth of insertion

Kidney 6 (KI6/Zhaohai)

In the depression below the tip of the medial malleolus

Tonifies Kidney Yin

up to 3 mm

Kidney 7 (KI7/Fuliu)

2 cun a directly above the acupoint Kidney 3 on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon. (Kidney 3 is located in the depression between the tip of the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon)

Tonifies Kidney Yang and stops night sweating

up to 15 mm

Spleen 6 (SP6/Sanyinjiao)

3 cun directly above the tip of the medial malleolus

Nourishes Kidney, Heart and Liver Yin

up to 20 mm

Heart 6 (HT6/Yinxi)

When the palm faces upward, the point is on the radial side of the tendon of muscularis flexor carpi ulnaris, 0.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist

Together with KI7, stops night sweating

up to 3 mm

Conception Vessel 4 (CV4/Guanyuan)

On the anterior midline, 3 cun below the umbilicus

Strengthens the uterus, nourishes the kidneys

20 to 30 mm

Liver 3 (LR3/Taichong)

On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones

Subdues rising Liver Yang

7 to 12 mm

  1. aA cun is is a measurement used in locating acupoints, and corresponds to the distance between the two medial ends of the creases of the interphalangeal joints, when the patient’s middle finger is flexed.