Table 1.
Acupuncture point locations and indications
| Name | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sinus Specific | ||
| LI-4 (He Gu) | On the dorsum of the hand, at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone, near its radial border | Nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, headache, wind-cold TCM pattern, neck pain, facial pain, stress |
| GB-20 (Feng Chi) | Near the base of skull, in the depression between the origins of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles | Nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, headache, wind-cold TCM pattern |
| ST-3 (Ju Liao) | Lateral to the nasolabial groove, level with the lower border of the ala nasi, directly inferior to the midpoint of the eye | Pain and swelling involving the maxillary sinus |
| LI-20 (Ying Xiang) | In the nasolabial groove, at the level of the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi | Nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, anosmia |
| UB-2 (Zan Zhu) | Superior to the inner canthus, in a depression at the medial border of the eyebrow | Rhinitis, pain and swelling of the frontal sinus, frontal headache, wind TCM pattern |
| DU-23 (Shang Xing) | At the top of the head on the midline, 1 finger breadth posterior to the anterior hairline | Nasal obstruction and discharge, headache, rhinitis |
| Quality-of-Life Improvement | ||
| LI-11 (Qu Chi) | With the elbow flexed, at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease | Loss of voice, sore throat, heat TCM pattern |
| SJ-5 (Wai Guan) | Three finger breadths proximal to the wrist crease, on the radial side of the extensor digitorum communis tendons | Headache, neck pain, wind-heat TCM pattern |
| GB-21 (Jian Jing) | Midway between the spinous process of C7 and the tip of the acromion, at the highest point of the trapezius muscle | Neck pain, cough, phlegm |
| P-6 (Nei Guan) | Three finger breadths proximal to the wrist crease in between the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis | Anxiety, pain of the head and neck, cough |
| ST-36 (Zu San Li) | With the knee extended, 4 finger breadths below the patella, just lateral to the tibia within the tibialis anterior muscle | Fatigue, vitality |
| LIV-3 (Tai Chong) | On the dorsum of the foot, in the depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones | Headache, insomnia, stress, irritability |
From Suh JD, Wu AW, Taw MB, et al. Treatment of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis with integrative east-west medicine: a pilot study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012;138(3):294-300, with permission; and Data from Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A manual of acupuncture. 2nd edition. Hove (England): Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 2001.