Back pain is one of the most common reasons people look for extra ways to manage discomfort between appointments. Acupressure — applying firm, steady pressure to specific points along the body’s meridians — is a form of self-care you can try at home. Below is a guide to eight commonly used points for back pain, along with how to use them safely.
If you’d rather explore this interactively, the Pain Point Body Map lets you tap where it hurts and see what’s commonly linked to that area.
Before You Start: A Quick Safety Note
Acupressure is a form of self-care, not a diagnosis or a replacement for a professional assessment. See your GP promptly, or head to an emergency department, if your back pain followed an injury, is severe or getting worse, or comes with numbness, tingling, leg weakness, fever, or any change in bladder or bowel control. If you’re pregnant, two of the points below should be avoided, and it’s worth checking with your acupuncturist or GP before trying acupressure on yourself.
How to Use These Points
Use your thumb or knuckle to apply firm, steady pressure — not a sharp jab. Hold for 30 seconds to two minutes, breathing normally throughout, and repeat on both sides of the body where relevant. Some tenderness is normal, but stop if you feel sharp or worsening pain.
1. BL23 – Shènshù (Kidney Shu)
Location: about two finger-widths either side of the spine, roughly level with your belly button, in the lower back.
In Chinese medicine, this point is associated with lower back strength and Kidney qi, and is one of the most frequently used points for general lower back discomfort and fatigue-related aches.
2. GV4 – Mìngmén (Gate of Life)
Location: directly on the spine, between the second and third lumbar vertebrae, roughly opposite your belly button.
Sitting right at the centre of the lower back, this point is traditionally used to support lower back strength and is often used alongside BL23.
3. BL40 – Wěizhōng (Bend Middle)
Location: the centre of the crease behind the knee.
Known in Chinese medicine as a key command point for the back, BL40 is traditionally used for back pain even though it sits well away from the spine itself.
4. BL60 – Kūnlún (Kunlun Mountains)
Location: on the outside of the ankle, in the hollow between the outer ankle bone and the Achilles tendon.
A classic Bladder-channel point for the back, Kūnlún is traditionally used for lower back pain and stiffness, particularly when it’s accompanied by tightness through the ankle or heel.
Important: BL60 is traditionally avoided during pregnancy.
5. GB30 – Huántiào (Jumping Round)
Location: in the buttock, roughly a third of the way between the top of the thigh bone and the base of the spine — easiest to find while sitting with the hip bent.
This point is traditionally associated with pain that radiates from the lower back into the hip or leg, sometimes described as sciatica-type discomfort.
6. SI3 – Hòuxī (Back Ravine)
Location: on the outer edge of the hand, near the base of the little finger — found where the crease appears when you loosely close your hand into a fist.
Hòuxī is traditionally regarded as a key point for stiffness and pain running along the spine, and is often used for lower back pain where movement feels restricted.
7. LU5 – Chǐzé (Cubit Marsh)
Location: on the inner elbow crease, on the thumb side of the tendon you can feel when the elbow is slightly bent.
Although it sits on the Lung channel, LU5 is used in some acupuncture traditions as a distal point for acute lower back strain, typically pressed on the side opposite the pain.
8. LI4 – Hégǔ (Union Valley)
Location: the fleshy web between the thumb and index finger.
A widely used point for general pain relief, LI4 is often included as a supporting point in back pain protocols.
Important: LI4 should not be used during pregnancy, as it is traditionally associated with stimulating labour.
When to See a Professional
Self-acupressure can be a useful addition to your own pain management routine, but it isn’t a substitute for a proper Chinese medicine assessment. At Finer Point Acupuncture in Narangba, treatment plans are built around your individual presentation — using acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and tailored point selection — rather than a one-size-fits-all self-help routine. If your back pain isn’t improving, or you’d like a considered treatment plan, I’d love to see you for a consultation.
Finer Point Acupuncture Pty Ltd — 29 Penda Street, ‘Ridgeview Estate’, Narangba QLD 4504
0431 064 303 / 07 3092 9140 — Book online
This information is general in nature and does not replace individualised medical or Chinese medicine advice. Consult a qualified health practitioner before starting any new self-treatment, particularly if you are pregnant, have an underlying health condition, or your pain is severe, persistent or worsening.