Coccyx Pain

How Chinese medicine differentiates coccyx (tailbone) pain — distinct from Buttocks Pain and Low Back Pain already covered — the two 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. Coccyx pain after a fall or with bowel or bladder changes needs medical evaluation before assuming it is a simple pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for coccyx pain — 5 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
BL-40	Invigorates Blood and unblocks the channel to relieve lower back and coccyx pain.
BL-32	Directly affects the sacral region, promoting Qi and Blood flow to the tailbone.
SP-10	Invigorates Blood and dispels stasis, helping to resolve the fixed pain.
ST-40	Master point for Phlegm, transforms Phlegm and Dampness throughout the body.
SP-9	Resolves Dampness and promotes the Spleen's ability to transport fluids.
DU-1	Local point at the tip of the coccyx, unblocks the Du Mai and relieves tailbone pain.

The Two Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Stabbing pain in a fixed location, tenderness at the tailbone, worsening with direct pressure or movement, history of trauma or prolonged sitting, irritability or emotional tension.

Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood and dispel stasis, unblock the channels and alleviate pain, move Qi.

BL-40 ↓ BL-32 ⊥ SP-10 ↓

Note: no moxa, may bleed BL-40 for acute pain. Matches this site's Liver-Blood stasis slide — a dark purple tongue with stasis spots is the same discoloration marker named there.

2. Phlegm in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: Heavy distending pain around the tailbone, stiffness and a feeling of fullness in the sacral area, numbness in the lower back or buttocks, worsening with prolonged sitting and damp weather.

Tongue: Purple body with stasis spots, white greasy coating, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy, or wiry and slippery if Phlegm predominates.

Treatment principle: Resolve Dampness and Phlegm, transform Phlegm obstruction, promote Qi circulation to disperse blockages.

ST-40 ↓ SP-9 ↓ DU-1 ⊥

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a dedicated Phlegm-in-the-channels Bi-syndrome category, a confirmed and recurring absence, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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