The Top Five (and One Secret) Acupuncture Points for Diabetes
Acupuncture is often used as a complementary therapy for managing diabetes, particularly to help regulate blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and address symptoms related to diabetes such as neuropathy or fatigue. Several acupuncture points are commonly recommended to assist with these conditions:
SP 3, 太白, Tài Bái
SP 3, or Tai Bai, as it’s known in Chinese, is translated as “extreme white.” The point is located on the inside of the foot, just off of the “big knuckle” of the first toe. It’s located where the sole of the foot meets the top of the foot. There are many different functions of the acupuncture point, but for the purpose of treating diabetes the acupuncture point stimulates the pancreas, reduce insulin resistance, and helps stabilize blood sugar.
SP 3, 太白, Tài Bái
SP 9, 陰陵泉, Yīn Líng Quán
SP 9, Yīn Líng Quán, as it’s known in Chinese, is translated as “Inner Mound Spring.” The point is located on the inside of the shin bone about a hand breadth below the knee cap. It can be found by sliding up the inner side of the shin bone until finger falls into a large depression. This acupuncture point is used form many different types of gastrointestinal problems, but in relation to the treatment of diabetes, this point reduces fasting blood sugar, improve insulin levels, reduce urinary albumin in diabetic kidney disorders, and treat diabetic neuropathy.
ST 36, 足三里, Zú Sān Lǐ
ST 36, Zú Sān Lǐ, as it’s known in Chinese, is translated as “Leg Three Li.” The Li is a measurement of distance which varied throughout the millenia between one kilometer and one mile. The point is located on the outside of the shin bone about a hand breadth below the knee joint. It can be found by sliding up the outer side of the shin bone until finger falls into a large depression one hand breadth below the knee joint. This acupuncture point is used for many diseases and disorders such as fatigue, digestive problems, and respiratory problems, but in relation to the treatment of diabetes, this point significantly lowers blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance.
KI 7, 復溜, Fù Liū
KI 7, Fù Liū, as it’s known in Chinese, is translated as “Returning Current.” The point is located on the inner ankle about 2 finger widths above the inner ankle bone. It can be found by sliding up the front of the achilles tendon until finger falls into a small depression two finger widths above the inner ankle bone. This acupuncture point is used mainly for kidney, urinary bladder, and swelling problems, but in the case of diabetes it is used to improve kidney function which can be impaired in diabetes.
UB 20, 脾俞, Pí Shù
UB 20, Pí Shù, as it’s known in Chinese, is translated as “Spleen Back Transport Point.” The point is located between the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebral spinous processes. The point is located on both the right and left sides of the spine at the peak of the mound of the muscles that run beside the spine which are about two finger breadths from the spine. This acupuncture point is used mainly for fatigue and gastrointenstinal problems, but in the case of diabetes it is used to improve pancreatic function and the secretion of insulin.
And now… the Top Secret Acupuncture Point for Diabetes.
It’s not found in any standard textbook in the West. It is found in a separate system known as Master Tung’s Acupuncture. Furthermore, it’s not found in the standard reference materials that have made their way over to America. This point is found in Dr. Hu Wen-Zhi’s lineage from Master Tung and is only in the Chinese language. The point is known as 土昌三, Tǔ Chāng Sān, and is translated as “Earth Prosperous.” It is one of Master Tung’s points that is used in the treatment of diabetes. It is said to treat spleen (pancreas), liver, and gall bladder problems. In Chinese Medicine there is a syndrome in which the Liver can overact on the Spleen, this syndrome is used to describe a disharmony in the organs of the area of the abdomen between the ribs and the navel. It is located two divisions behind the knee cap and six divisions toward the head. There are nineteen divisions between the knee joint and the outside of the hip bone.
