Today, I want to talk about something that every acupuncture student and practitioner has struggled with at some point…

👉 How do you differentiate acupuncture points that seem to do the exact same thing?

Because let’s be honest, when you’re studying (or even in clinic), it can feel like:
“Wait… don’t all of these treat stress, pain, digestion, AND everything else?!” 😅

If you’ve ever felt like point functions start to blur together, you’re not alone. Many points seem to repeat the same actions: regulate Qi, move Blood, clear Heat, calm the Shen. Until it all becomes one big overlap.

The real challenge isn’t memorizing functions. It’s knowing why you’d choose one point over another in a real clinical case. Because patients don’t present like textbooks, and this is where both students and practitioners can start to second-guess their choices.

• Should I use LV3 or LI4 here?
• Is SP6 enough, or do I need ST36?
• Why choose PC6 over HT7 for anxiety?

When everything “works,” how do you decide what works best?

The truth is, points aren’t interchangeable. Each one has its own personality, direction, and clinical strength. Once you start seeing those differences, your treatments become more precise, and your confidence grows.

So today, we’re going to break this down in a way that actually makes sense, and helps you choose the right point with clarity and confidence.

Let’s do this!

Clara
TCM Geek

Links mentioned in this video:

💌 Sign up to my FREE newsletter here

📙 Get your copy of AcuPoints Made Easy Book or PDF

🔍 TCM Diagnosis Made Easy 90 Minute CE Masterclass!

🤔AcuPoints Selection for Effective Treatments 90 minute CE Masterclass

🩵 Curious if Jane is right for your practice? Book a free demo and get a one-month grace period with code ACUPRO1MO!

How to Differentiate These 9 Acupuncture Points

Why So Many Points Seem Similar

In Chinese medicine, multiple acupuncture points often share similar functions because they:

• Belong to the same channel
• Influence the same organ system
• Treat similar patterns (like Qi stagnation or deficiency)

But here’s the key:

👉 Each acupuncture point has a personality

And once you understand that personality, everything clicks.

The 9 Acupuncture Points We’re Differentiating

Today we’re looking at 9 commonly used points that often get mixed up:

• LI4
• LV3
• ST36
• SP6
• PC6
• HT7
• LU7
• GB34
• BL60

These are powerhouse points, but knowing when to choose each one is what makes you a stronger practitioner.

LI4 vs LV3 → The “Four Gates” (But Not the Same)

These two are often used together, but individually they have different strengths.

LI4 

• Best for: Pain, especially face/head
• Strong at: Moving Qi, clearing Heat
• Think: External + upper body

LV3 

• Best for: Emotional stagnation, stress, PMS
• Strong at: Moving Liver Qi
• Think: Internal + emotional regulation

👉 Quick tip:
LI4 = physical tension
LV3 = emotional tension

ST36 vs SP6 → Digestion & Deficiency

ST36 

• Best for: Qi and overall vitality
• Strong at: Boosting energy, immunity
• Think: Big-picture tonification

SP6 

• Best for: Blood, Yin, hormones
• Strong at: Gynecology + digestion
• Think: Deeper nourishment

👉 Quick tip:
ST36 = energy
SP6 = fluids + hormones

PC6 vs HT7 → Calming the Mind

Both are amazing for emotional health — but they work differently.

PC6 

• Best for: Anxiety + nausea
• Strong at: Regulating the chest, calming the mind
• Think: Movement + regulation

HT7 

• Best for: Insomnia, deep emotional issues
• Strong at: Nourishing Heart Blood
• Think: Grounding + calming

👉 Quick tip:
PC6 = anxiety with movement (nausea, chest)
HT7 = insomnia + deeper Shen disturbances

LU7 vs LI4 → Exterior & Immunity

These both treat exterior conditions — but with different angles.

LU7 

• Best for: Wind-Cold, neck stiffness
• Strong at: Opening the Lung, descending Qi
• Think: Respiratory + channel opening

LI4

• Best for: Wind-Heat, pain, fever
• Strong at: Clearing Heat + releasing exterior
• Think: Strong dispersing action

👉 Quick tip:
LU7 = Lung + neck
LI4 = Heat + pain

GB34 vs BL60 → Pain & Movement

GB34

• Best for: Tendons, stiffness, mobility
• Strong at: Musculoskeletal function
• Think: Movement + flexibility

BL60

• Best for: Back pain, acute pain
• Strong at: Clearing channels
• Think: Strong, descending, clearing

👉 Quick tip:
GB34 = stiffness
BL60 = pain

How to Actually Choose the Right Point

Here’s the shift that changes everything:

Instead of asking:
❌ “Which point treats this symptom?”

Ask:
✅ “What is the pattern and what does this point do best?”

Because that’s where the magic happens.

Final Thoughts

Differentiating acupuncture points isn’t about memorizing more, it’s about understanding more deeply.

When you start seeing each point as having a unique personality, your treatments become:

• More precise
• More effective
• More intuitive

And honestly… a lot more fun.

If this kind of breakdown helps you, let me know, I can absolutely do more of these 💜