5 Essential Acupuncture Points Everyone Should Know

Acupuncture might seem like an ancient art (because, well, it is), but some of its techniques are surprisingly modern in their precision. Whether you're a curious beginner or a wellness warrior, these five acupuncture points are among the most frequently used in clinics worldwide — not just for acupuncture, but also for acupressure. Let’s take a look at how these small pressure points can make a big difference.

Understanding the “Cun” Measurement

Before we begin, it’s worth understanding a key unit in Traditional Chinese Medicine: the cun (pronounced "soon"). It’s not a fixed length — it’s a proportional measurement based on your own body. One cun is the width of your thumb at the knuckle. It’s used to locate acupuncture points with personalized precision. For example, a point might be described as “2 cun above the wrist crease” — meaning two thumb widths up, using your own hand. Think of it as your body's own built-in ruler.

1. LI 4 – Large Intestine 4 (Hegu)

Location: In the webbing between your thumb and index finger.

Benefits: This is one of the most famous and versatile acupuncture points. LI 4 is used to relieve headaches, boost the immune system, and treat pain in the face, head, and even the digestive system. It’s also known to help with allergies, toothaches, and even induce labor (so not recommended during pregnancy unless that’s the goal).

Why it matters: This point is part of the “Four Gates” treatment, designed to promote the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the body — essentially, acupuncture’s version of opening the floodgates of healing.

2. PC 6 – Pericardium 6 (Neiguan)

Location: About two thumb widths above the wrist crease, between the two tendons in the center of the forearm.

Benefits: A go-to for nausea, motion sickness, anxiety, heart palpitations, and chest tightness. This point is so effective for nausea that many anti-nausea wristbands on the market are designed to stimulate it.

Why it matters: PC 6 connects to both emotional and physical well-being — calming the heart and stomach while regulating circulation. It’s a heavy-hitter for stress and insomnia as well.

3. ST 36 – Stomach 36 (Zusanli)

Location: On the leg, about four fingers’ width below the kneecap and one finger width to the outside of the shinbone.

Benefits: ST 36 is like acupuncture’s energy shot. It treats fatigue, boosts digestion, strengthens the immune system, and helps with everything from nausea to weak limbs. Known as “Leg Three Miles,” it’s said this point could give weary travelers enough strength to walk another three miles. That's not metaphor. That’s Chinese medicine poetry.

Why it matters: It’s one of the most-used points for building vitality and resilience. Basically, it’s a must-have in any acupuncturist’s toolkit.

4. KI 3 – Kidney 3 (Taixi)

Location: In the depression between the inside ankle bone (medial malleolus) and the Achilles tendon.

Benefits: KI 3 is key for anything related to the kidneys: fatigue, memory issues, tinnitus, frequent urination, even reproductive health. It’s considered a deeply grounding point and helps balance yin energy — the body's cooling, nourishing force.

This point is often nicknamed “Leg Three Miles” — and for good reason. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it's said that even when you're completely exhausted, stimulating this point can give you the energy to walk three more miles. It’s one of the most powerful points for restoring vitality. It supports digestion, combats fatigue, and helps regulate overall energy levels in the body. If you’re feeling depleted, this is the point to press.

Why it matters: In Chinese medicine, the kidneys are the “root of life.” Supporting them can strengthen willpower, enhance longevity, and revive overall energy.

5. LV 3 – Liver 3 (Taichong)

Location: On the top of the foot, in the webbing between the big toe and the second toe, about 1.5 cun above the web margin.

Benefits: This is the MVP for stress relief. It calms the liver (in TCM terms), relieves tension headaches, improves sleep, and even helps regulate hormones and menstrual cycles. It’s commonly used in combination with LI 4 to create the “Four Gates” treatment mentioned earlier.

Why it matters: Liver Qi stagnation is one of the most common diagnoses in TCM. LV 3 helps it flow again, smoothing out everything from moods to menstrual cycles.

Final Thought

These five acupuncture points are your entryway into a system that views the body not just as a collection of parts, but as an integrated flow of energy and function. From migraines to insomnia, indigestion to anxiety — these points can help recalibrate your system gently and powerfully.

In our next article, we’ll dive deeper into how to use these points with acupressure techniques at home, including how long to hold, what to pair them with, and when to avoid them.