Diabetes Insipidus

A water-balance disorder causing extreme thirst and dilute, high-volume urination, approached in TCM through the Kidney and Spleen’s control of fluid metabolism.

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

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for diabetes insipidus — 4 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. Tonifies the Original Qi.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Promotes the function of the Liver and the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang). Strengthens the Kidney’s receiving of Qi. Calms the Mind.
REN-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Strengthens the Uterus and regulates menstruation.

The Six Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Kidney Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Frequent, large-volume pale urination, intense thirst with a constant desire to drink, night sweats, dizziness, heat in the palms soles and chest.

Tongue: N Pulse: o

Treatment principle: red, thin body, dry, little coating,fine and rapid

KI-3 ↑ KI-6 ↑ SP-6 ↑

2. Kidney Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Feeling cold all over, especially the lower back and legs, clear copious pale urination, fatigue, a pale bright complexion.

Tongue: W Pulse: a

Treatment principle: pale, swollen body with wet white coating,deep, slow, and weak

BL-23 ↑ REN-4 ↑ KI-3 ↑

3. Qi and Yin Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Fatigue and lack of strength, dry mouth, pale frequent urination, mild thirst, spontaneous sweating.

Tongue: T Pulse: o

Treatment principle: red or pale-red body, little coating, dry,fine, weak, and slightly rapid

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ REN-4 ↑

4. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Thirst without much desire to drink, abdominal bloating, loose stools, fatigue, a feeling of heaviness.

Tongue: S Pulse: t

Treatment principle: pale, swollen body with teeth marks, white greasy coating,soggy and slow

SP-9 ↓ ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑

5. Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner

Clinical manifestations: A feeling of fullness and stuffiness in the upper abdomen, thick tongue coating, nausea, poor appetite.

Tongue: D Pulse: r

Treatment principle: pale, swollen body, thick white greasy coating,slippery

ST-40 ↓ SP-9 ↓ REN-12 ↑

6. Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing lower abdominal pain, dark menstrual clots or dark lips, a dusky complexion.

Tongue: I Pulse: n

Treatment principle: purple or dusky body with stasis spots,choppy

SP-10 ↓ LIV-3 ↓ SP-6 ↓

Related conditions

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