Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)

How Chinese medicine differentiates athlete's foot, the three patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs; topical antifungal care is usually still needed alongside pattern-based treatment.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Spreading redness, fever, or a diabetic foot needs medical evaluation before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for athlete's foot — 6 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, subdues rebellious Qi.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind, regulates Defensive Qi.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-6	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness.
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
ST-36	Tonifies Qi and Blood, tonifies Stomach and Spleen.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat, cools Blood.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Macerated, whitish, sodden skin between the toes; vesicles and oozing of clear or yellowish fluid; intense itching, worse in warm damp conditions; a heavy sensation in the legs; foul-smelling feet or discharge.

Tongue: Red body with yellow greasy coating, thickest at the root. Pulse: Slippery and rapid, possibly soggy, pronounced at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and dry Dampness, strengthen the Spleen and resolve Dampness.

SP-9 ↓ ST-40 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Damp-Heat in the Bladder.

2. Blood Deficiency with External Wind

Clinical manifestations: Dry, flaky, or thickened skin on the soles; fissures or cracks that may bleed; itching that worsens at night; a pale or dull facial complexion; sensitivity or aversion to wind and drafts.

Tongue: Pale, thin body, thin white slightly dry coating. Pulse: Fine, wiry at the left middle position, possibly floating at the right front.

Treatment principle: Nourish Blood and moisten dryness, dispel Wind and stop itching.

Nourish Blood

SP-6 ↑ ST-36 ↑

Dispel Wind

SP-10 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site combines Blood deficiency with external Wind into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Heat and Blood Stagnation in the Lower Burner

Clinical manifestations: Intense stabbing or burning foot pain; dark red or purplish swollen skin; erosion or oozing with dark discharge; worse with pressure and at night; restlessness or agitation.

Tongue: Reddish-purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Deep, choppy, often rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and resolve toxicity, invigorate Blood and dispel stasis.

SP-10 ↓ LR-3 ↓ SP-6 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Heat-and-Blood-stagnation-in-the-Lower-Burner category, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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