Table 1 Acupuncture points and depth of needling in the true acupuncture arm

 BL23

1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of L2

30–40 mm/50 mm

 BL24

1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of L3

30–40 mm/50 mm

 BL25

1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of L4

30–40 mm/50 mm

 BL26

1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of L5

30–40 mm/50 mm

 BL27

1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of S1

30–40 mm/50 mm

 BL28

1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of S2

20–30 mm/40 mm

 BL54

3 cun lateral to the spinous process of S4

50–70 mm/75 mm

 BL31

Over the first sacral foramen

20–30 mm/40 mm

 BL32

Over the second sacral foramen

20–30 mm/40 mm

 BL33

Over the third sacral foramen

20–30 mm/40 mm

 GB30

Over the piriformis muscle, at junction of lateral 1/3 and medial 2/3 of line joining sacral hiatus and greater trochanter of the femur

50–70 mm/75 mm

 HJJ L4

One fingerbreadth lateral to the spinous process of L4

30–40 mm/50 mm

 HJJL5

One fingerbreadth lateral to the spinous process of L5

30–40 mm/50 mm

 GB34

One fingerbreadth anterior and one inferior to the fibular head

25–30 mm/40 mm

 ST36

3 cun below the joint line of the knee and a fingerbreadth lateral to the tibial crest

25–30 mm/40 mm

 LR3

Just distal to the junction of the bases of the first and second metatarsal bones

25–30 mm/40 mm

 LI4

On the highest point of the first dorsal interosseous muscle of the hand

20–30 mm/40 mm–30 mm

 BL60

Midway between the lateral malleolus and the Achilles tendon

15–25 mm/30 mm

 BL62

1 cun below the tip of the lateral malleolus

10–20 mm/30 mm