Chronic Laryngitis

How Chinese medicine differentiates chronic laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box lasting more than three weeks) — distinct from Laryngitis and Hoarseness (Loss of Voice) already covered — the four 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. Hoarseness lasting more than 2-3 weeks needs an ENT evaluation to rule out other causes before assuming a simple pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for chronic laryngitis — 10 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
BL-13	Tonifies Lung-Qi directly to strengthen the voice.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen-Qi to generate more Qi and transform Dampness.
ST-36	Master point for Qi and Blood; builds postnatal energy to sustain the voice.
LU-7	Benefits the throat and helps lift Lung-Qi.
REN-22	Opens the larynx and restores vocal clarity.
BL-23	Nourishes Kidney-Yin to anchor the voice's root.
KI-6	Brings Yin fluids up to moisten the throat.
REN-23	Frees throat obstruction and benefits the voice.
LR-3	Soothes the Liver and regulates Qi to prevent Heat from rising.
DU-4	Ignites the body's core fire and warms Kidney-Yang.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Weak, breathy voice that tires with use, fatigue, poor appetite with bloating, loose stools, pale complexion, spontaneous sweating, catches colds easily.

Tongue: Pale, puffy and tender with teeth marks on the edges, thin white coating that may be slightly slippery. Pulse: Overall weak and forceless, especially empty in the right Cun and right Guan positions.

Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen and Lung Qi, drain Dampness, restore voice strength.

BL-13 ↑ BL-20 ↑ ST-36 ↑ LU-7 ⊥ REN-22 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Spleen-and-Lung-Qi-deficiency slide.

2. Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dry, scratchy throat without much mucus, hoarseness worsening afternoon/evening, night sweats, heat in palms and soles, low back and knee soreness, tinnitus or dizziness.

Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with little or no coating, possible cracks. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

Treatment principle: Nourish Lung and Kidney Yin, clear deficiency Heat, moisten the vocal cords.

BL-13 ↑ BL-23 ↑ KI-6 ↑ REN-23 ⊥

Note: no moxa given the Yin deficiency. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Kidney-and-Lung-Yin-deficiency slide.

3. Liver-Qi Stagnation That Transforms Into Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sensation of a lump in the throat (globus), voice hoarseness/loss worsening with stress/anger, distending rib-side pain, irritability and explosive anger, bitter taste, red face and eyes.

Tongue: Red body, especially red on the sides, yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry and rapid.

Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi stagnation, clear Heat, prevent Heat from rising to the throat.

REN-23 ⊥ LU-7 ⊥ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matched to this site's own Stagnant-Liver-Qi-turning-into-Heat slide, the same paraphrase-link convention used throughout this site.

4. Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Weak, low voice that tires easily, sensation of cold or a lump in the throat, aversion to cold, cold hands and feet, sore cold lower back and knees, loose stools or early-morning diarrhea, fatigue.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, puffy with teeth marks and a white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, weak, and slow, especially feeble in both rear positions and the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Warm and strengthen Spleen and Kidney Yang, dispel internal Cold, restore voice power.

DU-4 ↑ BL-23 ↑ BL-20 ↑ ST-36 ↑ REN-22 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Kidney-and-Spleen-Yang-deficiency slide.

Related conditions

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