Bad Breath (Halitosis)

How Chinese medicine differentiates bad breath, 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. Persistent bad breath should first be checked with a dentist to rule out dental/gum causes before assuming it is purely a digestive-pattern issue.

General Acupuncture Points

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

Point	Key action
ST-44	Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines.
L.I.-4	Removes obstructions from the channel, stops pain.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, regulates Stomach-Qi.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood, resolves Dampness.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
LR-2	Drains Liver-Fire, subdues Liver-Yang.
P-6	Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), benefits Essence.
KI-6	Nourishes Kidney-Yin, clears deficiency Heat.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Stomach Fire (Stomach Heat) View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Strong, foul breath that feels hot; thirst with a craving for cold drinks; swollen, red, or bleeding gums; a burning pain in the upper stomach area; excessive hunger or a constant appetite; constipation with dry, hard stools.

Tongue: Red body, possibly with central prickles, thick dry yellow coat. Pulse: Rapid, slippery, full, especially strong at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and drain Fire from the Stomach, cool the Blood, direct rebellious Stomach-Qi downward.

ST-44 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ Ren-12 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Stomach-Heat (or Phlegm-Heat).

2. Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A sticky or slimy sensation in the mouth; bloating and fullness in the upper abdomen; loose, sticky stools that feel incomplete; a heavy feeling in the body and limbs.

Tongue: Red body, possibly swollen with teeth marks, thick yellow greasy coating, especially at the centre and root. Pulse: Soggy, rapid, often slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear Damp-Heat by drying Dampness and clearing Heat, resolve turbidity.

Ren-12 ↓ ST-36 ⊥ SP-9 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

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

3. Liver Qi Stagnation that Transforms into Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A bitter taste in the mouth; distending pain in the ribs; irritability and explosive anger.

Tongue: Red body with redder sides, yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry and rapid, especially tense at the left middle position.

Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi stagnation at its root and clear the Heat resulting from constraint.

LR-3 ↓ LR-2 ↓ P-6 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Stagnant Liver-Qi turning into Heat.

4. Food Stagnation in the Stomach View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sour, rotten-smelling belching; epigastric bloating that worsens after eating; relief after vomiting; foul-smelling flatulence.

Tongue: Normal body with a thick, greasy or curd-like coating, thickest in the centre. Pulse: Slippery and full, strongest at the right Guan position.

Treatment principle: Promote digestion and resolve food stagnation, harmonize the Stomach.

Ren-12 ↓ ST-36 ⊥ ST-44 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Retention of Food in the Stomach.

5. Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Subtle, dry halitosis, worse at night or with fatigue; night sweats and five-palm heat; a dry mouth and throat, especially at night; lower back soreness and weakness.

Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with little or no coating, possible cracks. Pulse: Fine and rapid, may feel floating and empty, especially weak at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin to anchor floating Yang, clear deficiency-Heat without fueling the fire.

KI-3 ↑ KI-6 ↑ BL-23 ↑ ST-44 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Kidney-Yin deficiency, Empty-Heat blazing.

Related conditions

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