Crohn's Disease

How Chinese medicine differentiates Crohn's disease, the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs, and only as supportive care alongside gastroenterology management.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Crohn's disease needs ongoing medical management; acupuncture here is supportive care for symptoms between flares, not a substitute for that management. A severe flare, fever, or bowel obstruction needs urgent medical evaluation.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for Crohn's disease — 8 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Ren-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, regulates the Intestines.
ST-25	Regulates the Intestines, moves Qi and invigorates Blood, resolves Dampness.
ST-37	Regulates the Stomach and Intestines, resolves retention of food, eliminates Damp-Heat.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, moves Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, resolves Dampness and Phlegm.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Spleen Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull abdominal pain that improves with warmth and pressure; loose stools with undigested food; cold hands and feet; deep fatigue and heaviness; poor appetite, bloating worse after eating.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender with teeth marks, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak.

Treatment principle: Warm the Middle Burner, disperse Cold, tonify Qi.

ST-36 ↑ Ren-6 ↑ BL-20 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. Direct match with Spleen-Yang deficiency.

2. Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cramping abdominal pain worse with pressure; foul-smelling, urgent diarrhea with mucus and blood; a burning sensation at the anus; a feeling of body heat or low-grade fever.

Tongue: Red body with thick, yellow, greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and resolve toxicity, cool Blood, stop dysentery.

ST-25 ↓ ST-37 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine.

3. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing abdominal pain, worse with pressure; palpable masses or thickened bowel loops; distending pain in the chest or rib area; 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, move Qi and alleviate pain, disperse accumulations.

LR-3 ↓ SP-6 ↓ ST-25 ↓ BL-17 ↓

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

4. Cold-Damp Invading the Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Watery, loose stools without burning or urgency; dull, cramping abdominal pain that feels better with warmth; a heavy sensation in the body and limbs; bloating and fullness after eating; poor appetite.

Tongue: Pale, swollen body with teeth marks, thick white greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy or slippery, and slow.

Treatment principle: Dry Dampness and strengthen the Spleen, promote urination and drain Dampness.

ST-25 ↓ Ren-12 ↓ ST-36 ⊥ BL-20 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct match with Cold-Dampness invading the Spleen — pain relieved by warmth and watery stools are shared.

5. Rebellious Liver Qi Invading the Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cramping pain that moves around, often triggered by stress; diarrhea or loose stools after emotional upset, with relief after passing stool; alternating diarrhea and constipation; distension along the ribs and abdomen; irritability, frequent sighing.

Tongue: Normal or slightly pale body, possible teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Wiry overall, distinctly wiry at the left middle position, softer at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Strengthen the Spleen, nourish Blood and soften the Liver, drain Dampness.

LR-3 ↓ ST-36 ⊥ SP-6 ⊥ Ren-12 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Rebellious Liver-Qi invading the Spleen.

Related conditions

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