Adjunct Placement for Acupuncture Points and Trigger Points for Headaches & Migraine

by | Aug 11, 2026 | Adjunct Placement

Adjunct Placement for Acupuncture Points and Trigger Points for Headaches & Migraine

The Primary Placement shown in the Head Pain Treatment Protocol is the recommended starting point. The placements below are optional Adjunct Placements that may be considered when symptoms correspond with particular areas of tenderness, muscular involvement or movement restriction, or when the Primary Placement alone is not providing the desired response.Adjunct Placements may be used alongside the Primary Placement, at different times, or when exploring other placement options. In some situations, an appropriately selected distal acupuncture point may be useful on its own. Under the Field | Dose | Placement (FDP) principle, select only the placements that best correspond with where symptoms are felt, tenderness and individual response rather than routinely applying every point listed.

Recommended Additional Placements

Acupuncture Points

  1. LI4 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    A distal point on the hand that may be considered particularly for frontal head pain.
  2. ST44 – Medium Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – M
    A distal point on the foot listed as an Adjunct Placement for frontal head pain.
  3. GB41 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    A distal point on the foot that may be considered for temporal head pain.
  4. TE5 – Medium Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – M
    Located on the posterior forearm and listed as a distal Adjunct Placement for temporal head pain.
  5. GB20 – Small Quadrapolar or Medium Quadrapolar/Hexapolar – S / M
    Located at the base of the skull in the occipital region. It may be considered for temporal or occipital head pain, particularly where symptoms involve the upper neck or suboccipital region.Where hair or limited attachment space makes placement difficult, the supported M Medium option may assist with positioning.
  6. SI3 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    A distal point on the hand that may be considered for occipital head pain.
  7. BL60 – Medium Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – M
    Located around the outer ankle and listed as a distal Adjunct Placement for occipital head pain.
  8. LU7 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    A distal point near the wrist that may be considered for occipital head pain.
  9. KI1 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    Located on the sole of the foot and listed as an Adjunct Placement for vertex head pain.
  10. LR3 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    A distal point on the top of the foot that may be considered for vertex head pain.
  11. GV20 – Small Quadrapolar – S
    Located at the top of the head and listed as a local Adjunct Placement for vertex head pain.

Myofascial Trigger Points

  1. Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – L
    The SCM runs along the side of the neck from behind the ear toward the collarbone and sternum. Consider this placement where frontal or vertex head symptoms are accompanied by tenderness within this muscle.
  2. Frontalis – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – L
    Located across the forehead. This placement may be considered where frontal head pain corresponds with local tenderness in the frontal region.
  3. Temporalis – Medium Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – M
    Located over the temple on the side of the head. It may be relevant for temporal or vertex head pain where tenderness corresponds with the temporalis muscle.
  4. Masseter – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – L
    Located over the jaw muscle in the cheek, corresponding with the ST6 region. Consider where temporal head pain is associated with tenderness or muscular involvement around the jaw.
  5. Upper Trapezius – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – L
    Located across the upper shoulder and base of the neck. It may be considered for occipital head pain where tenderness or muscular tension is present in this region.
  6. Suboccipital Muscles – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – L
    These small muscles lie immediately beneath the base of the skull. They may be particularly relevant where headache symptoms appear to originate from the suboccipital region.
  7. Splenius Capitis – Medium Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – M
    Located at the back and side of the upper neck. Consider this placement where occipital head pain corresponds with local muscular tenderness or restricted neck movement.

Practical Placement Guidance

Begin with the Primary Placement shown in the Head Pain Treatment Protocol. If additional placement options are required, gently palpate the relevant head, neck or jaw region and prioritise the recommended points that best correspond with:

  • where the headache or discomfort is felt;
  • local tenderness or sensitivity;
  • muscular tenderness around the neck, jaw or scalp;
  • movement restriction, particularly where neck movement appears related to symptoms;
  • the individual’s response to previous placements.

For headaches that appear to originate from the neck or base of the skull, the Treatment Protocol specifically identifies cervicogenic and suboccipital presentations as situations where upper-neck or occipital placement may be worth considering.

Local and distal points do not all need to be used together. Where practical, begin with the placement or small number of placements that most closely match the symptom pattern and reassess the response before adding further points.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Headaches and migraines can have many different causes, including some that require medical assessment. Persistent, unexplained, worsening or severe headaches should be professionally assessed, particularly where symptoms are new, unusual or accompanied by other concerning signs.

This information is provided as educational guidance only and does not replace diagnosis, medical assessment or treatment recommended by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.