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Achilles Tendinitis

How Chinese medicine differentiates Achilles tendinitis, the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Sudden sharp pain with a popping sensation may indicate a tendon rupture and needs urgent medical evaluation before acupuncture is considered.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for Achilles tendinitis — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-10Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
L.I.-11Clears Heat, resolves Dampness, cools Blood.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
G.B.-34Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Benefits the sinews. Removes obstruction from the channel.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain at the tendon that worsens with pressure; local stiffness and adhesions; irritability from emotional stress.
Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots. Pulse: Wiry, Choppy.
Treatment principle: Move Qi, invigorate Blood, unblock the channel and relieve pain at the tendon.
L.I.-4 ↓ LR-3 ↓ SP-10 ↓
Note: no moxa. This site's \"Liver-Blood stasis\" slide is gynecological/hepatic-framed with no tendon-injury content, so no pattern link is given here.

2. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain that does not move; worse at night and with pressure; a palpable hard lump in the tendon.
Tongue: Purple or dusky with stasis spots. Pulse: Choppy or Wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, unblock the channel and alleviate pain.
L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ SP-10 ↓
Note: no moxa. Same reasoning as above — no genuine deck match for this local tendon-stasis picture.

3. Painful Obstruction due to Damp-Heat in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: A red, hot, swollen tendon area; burning pain worse with warmth and better with cold; a heavy sensation; thirst and irritability.
Tongue: Red, possibly swollen, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Rapid, Slippery.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, drain Dampness, unblock the channel and relieve the obstruction.
L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ SP-9 ↓
Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a joint/limb Painful Obstruction category, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Aching, heavy pain worsening in cold, damp or rainy weather; heaviness or numbness; swelling without redness; an aversion to cold.
Tongue: Pale, slightly swollen, teeth marks, white greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Tight, Slow.
Treatment principle: Expel Wind-Cold-Damp and warm the channels while tonifying Qi to invigorate Blood.
Expel Wind-Cold-Damp
L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓
Tonify Qi
ST-36 ↑
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify-Qi point. No deck on this site has a joint/limb Wind-Cold-Damp category, so no pattern link is given here.

5. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, lingering tendon pain that worsens with exertion and improves with rest; general fatigue; a pale complexion; dizziness; numbness or tingling.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin, teeth marks. Pulse: Fine, weak, thready.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood and strengthen the Spleen, supporting tendon repair.
ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ BL-20 ↑
Note: moxa applicable. No deck on this site combines a generic Qi and Blood deficiency pattern, so no pattern link is given here.
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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.