Common Peroneal Neuropathy (Foot Drop)

How Chinese medicine differentiates common peroneal neuropathy, the three 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. Foot drop needs a medical/neurological workup to find and address the underlying cause (compression, injury, systemic disease) — acupuncture here is supportive care for the nerve pattern, not a substitute for that workup.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for common peroneal neuropathy — 6 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood, tonifies Qi and Blood.
G.B.-34	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, benefits the sinews.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, subdues rebellious Qi.
G.B.-43	Subdues Liver-Yang, benefits the ears, resolves Damp-Heat.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain on the dorsum of the foot; pain worse at night; dark or purplish skin on the foot; foot drop with a stiff, tight sensation; a history of leg injury or prolonged compression.

Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Choppy or wiry.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, and unblock the channels to restore nerve conduction.

SP-10 ↓ BL-17 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓ ST-36 ⊥ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Liver-Blood stasis — dark/purplish skin and a dark purple tongue with stasis spots are the same discoloration markers named there.

2. Painful Obstruction due to Damp-Heat in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: Burning or stabbing pain along the lateral shin and dorsum of the foot; a heavy, dragging sensation; foot drop with difficulty dorsiflexing the ankle; pain worse with warmth; redness, swelling, or a heat sensation along the nerve pathway.

Tongue: Red body, possibly slightly swollen, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat, dry Dampness, and unblock the channels to restore nerve function.

G.B.-34 ↓ ST-40 ↓ LR-3 ↓ G.B.-43 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Damp-Heat Bi-syndrome category, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Painful Obstruction with Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: A dull, aching pain in the foot and lower leg; worsens with exertion or prolonged standing; pronounced muscle atrophy and foot drop; numbness and tingling on top of the foot; whole-body fatigue and a pale complexion.

Tongue: Pale body, possibly thin with teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, may be slow.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, invigorate Blood, and unblock the channels to nourish the sinews.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ G.B.-34 ⊥ LR-3 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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