Reference
Acupoints with indirect skin relevance
These 51 points have no skin-specific classical indication recorded in this library. Each point page now carries an explicit indirect rationale, explaining how the point's recorded action, channel or location can be read onto the skin picture. The rationales are traditional inference, not trial evidence.
They are gathered here so the reasoning is visible in one place, rather than hidden behind a "no skin use" note. Every entry links to its point page for location, technique, classical citation and safety.
How to read this list
A point appears here when its page records no direct skin indication but a rationale has been written for it. The rationale is a reading of the point, not a claim that it treats a named disease; it should be weighed alongside the pattern and condition pages rather than used alone. Points with an actual recorded skin use are linked from the skin-relevant pattern and condition pages instead. See the acupoint gallery for the full set with filters.
Bladder Meridian (Foot Taiyang)
- Fengmen (BL-12) - Fengmen is named the gate through which Wind enters and exits, and it is recorded to expel exterior Wind and strengthen the defensive Qi. Of the points here, its traditional link to the surface is the most direct,...
- Xinshu (BL-15) - Xinshu is the back-shu point of the Heart, recorded to calm the Mind, and its classical passages describe heart Qi disorder, confusion and epilepsy rather than any skin sign. The skin reading is indirect: where a skin...
- Ganshu (BL-18) - Ganshu is the back-shu point of the Liver, recorded to resolve Damp-Heat, invigorate Liver Qi and Blood, nourish Liver Blood and extinguish interior Wind. The organ relationship is the indirect basis for a skin reading:...
- Pishu (BL-20) - Pishu is the back-shu point of the Spleen, recorded to tonify Spleen Qi and Yang, resolve Dampness, nourish Blood and lift Qi. The traditional reasoning here is one of the clearest indirect links: the Spleen is...
- Shenshu (BL-23) - Shenshu is the back-shu point of the Kidney, recorded to tonify Kidney Yang and Yin, nourish the Essence, regulate the water passages and strengthen the lower back. The traditional skin reasoning is indirect but...
- Dachangshu (BL-25) - As the back-shu point of the Large Intestine, Dachangshu is recorded to regulate the Large Intestine and remove Qi stagnation in it, and it lies on the lower back at the fourth lumbar vertebra. The traditional skin...
Conception Vessel
- Zhongwan (REN-12) - Zhongwan is a Conception Vessel point in the upper abdomen, recorded to tonify the Stomach and Spleen, regulate Qi, expel Dampness and Phlegm and harmonise the middle burner. Its skin relevance is indirect and...
- Zhongji (REN-3) - Zhongji is a Conception Vessel point on the lower abdomen, recorded to clear Dampness from the lower burner, benefit the bladder and uterus, and strengthen the Kidneys and Essence. Its skin relevance is indirect and...
- Guanyuan (REN-4) - Guanyuan is recorded to nourish Blood and Yin and to strengthen the Kidneys and Original Qi, and its classical passage describes a collapse picture with cold limbs and a thready pulse. That gives two indirect skin...
- Qihai (REN-6) - Qihai is recorded to tonify Original Qi, lift sinking Qi, strengthen the Kidneys and harmonise Blood, and its classical passage describes Yang collapse with cold limbs, where moxa is applied at Qihai and Guanyuan until...
- Shenque (REN-8) - Shenque sits at the centre of the navel and is recorded to warm and rescue Yang, strengthen the Spleen and tonify Original Qi. Its classical entry is a strong caution as much as an indication: the point is forbidden to...
- Shuifen (REN-9) - Shuifen lies one cun above the umbilicus and is recorded to open the water passages, treat oedema and harmonise the Intestines; its classical name comes from the idea that clear and turbid are separated at this point....
Gallbladder Meridian (Foot Shaoyang)
- Yangbai (GB-14) - Yangbai is a Gallbladder point on the forehead, one cun above the midpoint of the eyebrow, recorded to subdue Liver Yang, expel Wind and benefit the eyes. Its location supports a local, cautious skin reading for lesions...
- Fengchi (GB-20) - Fengchi sits at the posterior neck and occiput on the Gallbladder channel, and its recorded actions are to subdue Liver Yang, expel exterior or interior Wind, and benefit the eyes and ears. The Wind action and the nape...
- Jianjing (GB-21) - Jianjing is recorded as a meeting point of the hand and foot Shaoyang channels and the Yang Linking vessel, with actions that remove channel obstruction and descend Qi. Its position at the shoulder and lateral neck...
- Yanglingquan (GB-34) - Yanglingquan is the He-sea point of the Gallbladder and the Hui-gathering point of the sinews, recorded to resolve Liver Qi stagnation, clear Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and benefit the sinews. Its skin...
Governing Vessel
- Changqiang (DU-1) - Changqiang sits at the sacral and gluteal region and is classed as the Luo-connecting and entry point of the Governing Vessel, with the recorded actions of regulating the two lower orifices and removing Dampness. Its...
- Dazhui (DU-14) - Dazhui is recorded as a meeting point of the Yang channels, with the actions of clearing Wind-Heat, releasing the exterior and tonifying Yang. A meeting point at the base of the neck is traditionally linked with the...
- Fengfu (DU-16) - Fengfu lies at the occiput, is recorded as a meeting point of the Governing Vessel and the Yang Linking vessel, and its actions are to expel Wind, both interior and exterior, and to calm the Mind. The location and Wind...
- Baihui (DU-20) - The classical record describes Baihui as a meeting place of the Yang channels and the extraordinary vessels, and its recorded actions are to expel interior Wind and raise Yang. That meeting-point function supports a...
- Mingmen (DU-4) - Mingmen is recorded as the Gate of Life and the root of primordial Qi, with actions that tonify Kidney Yang, expel Cold, strengthen the Essence and settle internal Wind. Because its function is broad rather than local,...
Heart Meridian (Hand Shaoyin)
- Shaohai (HT-3) - Shaohai is the He-sea point of the Heart channel, recorded to remove channel stagnation, calm the Mind and clear Heat. The skin reading is indirect: clearing Heat and removing stagnation is the traditional reasoning...
- Yinxi (HT-6) - Yinxi is the Xi-cleft point of the Heart channel, recorded to nourish Heart Yin, clear Empty-Heat, invigorate Heart Blood and calm the Mind. The indirect skin reasoning rests on the Empty-Heat action: where a dry, warm...
- Shenmen (HT-7) - Shenmen is the Yuan-source point of the Heart channel, recorded to calm the Mind, open the Minds orifices and nourish Heart Blood. Its skin relevance is indirect and emotion-centred: where a skin picture is described as...
- Shaofu (HT-8) - Shaofu is the Ying-spring point of the Heart channel in the palm, recorded to clear Fire, Empty-Fire or Phlegm-Fire in the Heart, calm the Mind and benefit the Bladder. The Fire-clearing action gives an indirect skin...
Kidney Meridian (Foot Shaoyin)
- Rangu (KI-2) - Rangu is the Ying-spring point of the Kidney channel on the foot, recorded to cool the Blood, clear Empty-Heat, regulate the Kidneys and the lower burner. The Empty-Heat action is the indirect basis for a skin reading:...
- Taixi (KI-3) - Taixi is the Yuan-source and Shu-stream point of the Kidney at the ankle, recorded to tonify Kidney Yin and Yang, strengthen the Essence and support the lower back. Its skin reasoning is deliberately broad and indirect:...
- Zhaohai (KI-6) - Zhaohai is a Kidney channel point at the inner ankle, recorded to nourish Kidney Yin, clear Empty-Heat, invigorate the Yin Stepping vessel and calm the Mind. The Yin-nourishing and Empty-Heat actions are the indirect...
- Fuliu (KI-7) - Fuliu is the river point of the Kidney channel, recorded to resolve Dampness, tonify the Kidney, regulate sweating and open the water passages. The traditional reasoning for skin is indirect: sweating and fluid...
Large Intestine Meridian (Hand Yangming)
- Shousanli (LI-10) - Shousanli is a Large Intestine point on the forearm, recorded to regulate the Intestines, remove channel obstruction and tonify Qi, and its classical description places it two cun below Quchi. Its skin reading is...
- Zhouliao (LI-12) - Zhouliao is a Large Intestine point at the elbow, recorded to remove obstruction from the channel, and its classical record only fixes the depression on the outer aspect of the elbow bone. The skin reading is local and...
- Jianyu (LI-15) - Jianyu is a Large Intestine point at the tip of the shoulder, recorded to remove obstruction from the channel and resolve Phlegm, and its classical description fixes the depression between the two bones. The skin...
Liver Meridian (Foot Jueyin)
- Qimen (LR-14) - Qimen is recorded as a meeting point of the foot Taiyin and foot Jueyin channels and the Yin Linking vessel, with actions that invigorate Liver Qi and harmonise the Liver and Stomach. Its location on the chest and...
- Xingjian (LR-2) - Xingjian is the Ying-spring point of the Liver channel between the first and second toes, recorded to clear Liver Fire, subdue Liver Yang, clear interior Wind, cool the Blood and resolve Damp-Heat. The Fire and Wind...
- Taichong (LR-3) - Taichong is the Yuan-source and Shu-stream point of the Liver channel, recorded to subdue Liver Yang, clear interior Wind, invigorate Liver Qi and Blood and clear Dampness. Its skin relevance is indirect and...
- Ligou (LR-5) - Ligou is the Luo-connecting point of the Liver channel on the medial lower leg, recorded to invigorate Liver Qi and clear Damp-Heat from the genitourinary system. The Luo connection and the Damp-Heat action are the...
- Ququan (LR-8) - Ququan is the He-sea point of the Liver channel, recorded to benefit the bladder, genitals and uterus, clear Dampness from the lower burner, invigorate Blood and nourish Liver Blood. The recorded action of nourishing...
Lung Meridian (Hand Taiyin)
- Zhongfu (LU-1) - Zhongfu is the front-mu point of the Lung on the chest, recorded to promote the descent of Lung Qi, stop cough, resolve Phlegm and ease the chest. The skin reading is indirect through the Lung channel: descending and...
- Yuji (LU-10) - Yuji is the Ying-spring point of the Lung channel on the thenar eminence, recorded to clear Lung Heat, descend Lung Qi, benefit the throat and calm the Mind. The classical record notes that the Lung channel reaches this...
- Chize (LU-5) - Chize is the He-sea point of the Lung channel, recorded to clear Lung Heat, descend Lung Qi and regulate the water passages. The Lung channel is traditionally associated with the body surface, so the recorded action of...
- Lieque (LU-7) - Lieque is the Luo-connecting point of the Lung channel, recorded to descend and diffuse Lung Qi, expel Wind from the exterior and open the Directing vessel. The Lung channel and the exterior are traditionally paired, so...
Pericardium Meridian (Hand Jueyin)
- Quze (PC-3) - Quze is the He-sea point of the Pericardium, recorded to clear Heat, cool the Blood, invigorate Blood and Qi in the chest and subdue rebellious Stomach Qi. The action of cooling the Blood is the clearest traditional...
- Neiguan (PC-6) - Neiguan is the Luo-connecting point of the Pericardium, recorded to invigorate Qi and Blood in the chest, calm the Mind, subdue rebellious Stomach Qi and invigorate Liver Qi. Its skin relevance is indirect and...
Small Intestine Meridian (Hand Taiyang)
- Tinggong (SI-19) - Tinggong is a Small Intestine point in front of the ear, recorded to benefit the ears, and the classical record names it as a meeting place of the Hand Taiyang, Hand Shaoyang and Foot Shaoyang channels. Its skin...
Stomach Meridian (Foot Yangming)
- Quepen (ST-12) - Quepen lies in the supraclavicular fossa and is recorded as a meeting place of five Yang channels, with actions that subdue rebellious Qi and remove obstruction from the channel. Its meeting-point status is the...
- Wuyi (ST-15) - Wuyi is a Stomach channel point on the chest, and its recorded actions are to descend rebellious Qi, open the chest, ease skin pain and itchiness, and benefit the breasts. This is the one point here whose own record...
- Jiexi (ST-41) - Jiexi is the river point of the Stomach channel at the ankle, recorded to clear Stomach Heat, calm the Mind and remove channel obstruction. Its classical record mentions facial puffiness and swelling of the face and...
- Neiting (ST-44) - Neiting is the Ying-spring point of the Stomach channel, recorded to clear Heat from the Stomach, resolve Damp-Heat, expel Wind from the face and calm the Mind. Its skin reading is indirect and twofold: the Heat and...
- Jiache (ST-6) - Jiache lies on the jaw and cheek, and its recorded action is simply channel regulation, with its general uses centred on the jaw, teeth and face. The skin reading is local and modest: because the point sits in the jaw...
- Touwei (ST-8) - Touwei is a Stomach channel point at the temporal corner of the forehead, recorded to expel Wind, relieve pain and benefit the eyes. The location is the basis for a local, cautious skin reading: lesions on the temple...
Triple Burner Meridian (Hand Shaoyang)
- Jianliao (SJ-14) - Jianliao is a Triple Burner point at the shoulder, recorded to remove obstruction from the channel, and its general uses are confined to shoulder and arm pain, stiffness and numbness. The skin rationale is local and...
Modern evidence and safety
General references for acupuncture safety and skin evidence. They are not specific to the points compared here, and they are not a claim that needling treats any condition.
- Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies. BMJ Open, 2021. PMID: 34489268.
- Acupuncture for atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 2024. PMID: 39638592.
- Manual acupuncture for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Surgery, 2025. PMID: 40696933.
- Acupuncture in Dermatology: An Update to a Systematic Review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2021. PMID: 32955916.