Conjunctivitis

Red, irritated, discharging eyes caused by infection or inflammation, distinguished in TCM by the depth and heat of the pathogen involved.

Educational information only, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for conjunctivitis — 4 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind and releases the Exterior. Promotes the diffusing of Lung-Qi, regulates the Defensive Qi and sweating. Stops pain.
G.B.-20	Expels exterior Wind. Extinguishes interior Wind. Subdues Liver-Yang.
LIV-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Extinguishes interior Wind. Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
BL-1	Expels Wind. Clears Heat. Stops itching.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Wind-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Sudden red, burning, itchy eyes with thin yellow watery discharge, mild fever or sore throat, excessive tearing, mild light sensitivity.

Tongue: D Pulse: i

Treatment principle: thin yellow coating, redder at the tip,floating and rapid

L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ EX-HN-5 (Taiyang) ↓

2. Toxic-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Severe redness with pinpoint hemorrhages, thick yellow or blood-tinged discharge gluing the eyelids shut, high fever, marked eyelid swelling.

Tongue: C Pulse: l

Treatment principle: deep red body with prickly papillae, thick dry yellow coating,rapid and forceful, overflowing

L.I.-11 ↓ DU-14 ↓ BL-1 ↓

3. Liver Fire Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning eye pain, throbbing headache at the temples, a bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, a red face and eyes.

Tongue: D Pulse: r

Treatment principle: red body with redder sides, dry yellow coat,wiry, rapid, and forceful

LIV-3 ↓ LIV-2 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓

4. Damp-Heat in the Liver View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Swollen, sticky eyelids with yellow discharge, chest and hypochondriac stuffiness, a bitter taste, heaviness of the body.

Tongue: C Pulse: l

Treatment principle: red body with yellow greasy coating,wiry, slippery, and rapid

LIV-3 ↓ SP-9 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓

5. Heat in the Blood

Clinical manifestations: Subconjunctival bleeding, blurred vision, a burning sensation worse at night, restlessness.

Tongue: C Pulse: o

Treatment principle: deep red body, dry, possible red prickles,rapid and thin, forceful

SP-10 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ LIV-2 ↓

Related conditions

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