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Chronic Pelvic Pain

How Chinese medicine differentiates chronic pelvic pain, 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. Chronic pelvic pain has many possible causes and needs a proper gynecological or urological work-up before acupuncture is considered.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for chronic pelvic pain — 12 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
Ren-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang and the Original Qi.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
Ren-3Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner. Regulates the Bladder and Uterus.
LR-2Drains Liver-Fire and subdues Liver-Yang. Resolves Damp-Heat in the genitourinary system.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang). Strengthens Essence.
Du-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang and warms the Gate of Life. Expels Cold.
BL-23Tonifies Kidney-Yang.
Ren-6Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi, tonifies Original Qi.
The Five Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing lower abdominal pain worse with pressure; dark, clotted menstrual blood; premenstrual worsening; irritability and mood swings; chest or breast distension.
Tongue: Purple or dark with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry, Choppy.
Treatment principle: Vigorously move Qi and Blood in the lower abdomen, relieve stabbing pain and regulate menstruation.
Note: no moxa. Matches Liver-Blood stasis — dark, clotted menstrual blood and painful periods are shared, gynecologically-framed hallmarks.

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

Clinical manifestations: Burning or heavy pelvic pain; thick, yellow, foul-smelling vaginal discharge; urinary urgency or burning; heaviness in the legs and lower body.
Tongue: Red, slightly swollen, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid, often Soggy.
Treatment principle: Clear Damp-Heat from the Liver channel and Lower Burner, relieving the burning pain and abnormal discharge.
Note: no moxa. Matches Damp-Heat in the Liver — yellow vaginal discharge and urinary burning are both explicitly listed there together.

3. Cold-Dampness in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A cold sensation in the lower abdomen; a heavy, dragging pelvic feeling; profuse white, watery vaginal discharge without odor; dull lower back pain worsening with cold and damp; cold limbs.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth marks, thick white greasy coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Soggy, especially at the rear positions.
Treatment principle: Warm the uterus, dispel Cold and dry Dampness to relieve the cold-damp pelvic pain and watery discharge.
Note: moxa applicable. Matches Bladder Deficient and Cold — the white discharge and cold, Kidney-Yang-deficiency-driven picture line up closely.

4. Kidney-Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dull, cold lower abdominal pain improving with warmth; lower back soreness and weak knees; feeling cold all over, especially the lower body; frequent urination, especially at night; fatigue and low spirits.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth marks, wet white coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, weak, especially at the rear (Chi) positions.
Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney-Yang to dispel Cold and relieve chronic pelvic pain.
Note: moxa applicable. Direct match with Kidney-Yang deficiency.

5. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: A dull, lingering pelvic ache worsening with fatigue and improving with rest; a pale or sallow complexion; scanty, light-colored menstrual flow; general fatigue and weakness; dizziness and heart palpitations.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin, teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, weak, especially at the Spleen position.
Treatment principle: Simultaneously replenish Qi and Blood, nourishing the pelvic organs and relieving deficiency-type pain.
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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