Table 3.
Location and indication of acupoints for treating PHN.
| Acupoints | Location | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Primary acupoints | ||
| (1) Ashi acupoints | Ashi points are defined as the most painful points in the herpes zoster lesion are. | – |
| (2) Jiaji acupints (EX-B2) | Jiaji acupoints on the ipsilateral side will be selected according to the corresponding ganglia involved by herpes zoster. Jiaji acupoints (EX-B2) are located 0.5 cun bilateral to the posterior midline in the dorsal thoracic and lumbar region, ranging from the first thoracic vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra. | – |
| (3) Xi-cleft points | ||
| Waiqiu (GB36) | On the lateral aspect of the lower leg, 7 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula, at the level of GB 35. | For pain sites that mainly distributed in the gallbladder meridian |
| Liangqiu (ST34) | When the knee is flexed, on the anterior aspect of the thigh, on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine and the lower lateral border of the patella, 2 cun above the patella. | For pain sites that mainly distributed in the stomach meridian |
| Jinmen (BL63) | On the lateral aspect of the foot, directly below the anterior border of the external malleolus, lateral to the lower border of the cuboid bone. | For pain sites that mainly distributed in the bladder meridian |
| Wenliu (LI7) | With the elbow flexed, the point is on the dorsal radial side of the forearm, 5 cun above the wrist crease | For pain sites that mainly distributed in the large intestine meridian |
| Supplementary acupoints | ||
| Xingjian (LR2) | On the dorsum of the foot, proximal to the margin of the web between the 1st and 2nd toes, at the junction of the red and white skin. | For stagnated heat of the liver meridian |
| Yinlingquan (SP9) | On the medial aspect of the lower leg, in the depression of the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia. | For damp heat of the spleen meridian |
| Geshu (BL17) | On the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra. | For blood stasis obstruction in vessels |
| Sanyinjiao (SP6) | On the medial aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun above the medial malleolus, on the posterior border of the medial aspect of the tibia. | For Yin deficiency of liver and kidney |