Dry Eyes

How Chinese medicine differentiates dry eyes, the four 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. Eye pain, vision changes, or redness needs an ophthalmological evaluation before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for dry eyes — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang). Strengthens Essence.
BL-18	Nourishes Liver-Blood. Brightens the eyes. Benefits the sinews.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
BL-13	Stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung-Qi. Tonifies Lung-Qi and nourishes Lung-Yin.
LU-9	Tonifies Lung-Qi and Lung-Yin. Resolves Phlegm.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen. Resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
ST-25	Regulates the Intestines. Moves Qi and invigorates Blood. Clears Heat in the Stomach and Intestines.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
ST-44	Clears Heat. Regulates the Intestines and resolves Damp-Heat.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.
Ren-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang. Raises sinking Qi.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dry, gritty eyes with blurred vision; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; night sweats; heat in the palms, soles and chest; dizziness; tinnitus; a dry mouth and throat.

Tongue: Red, thin, cracks, little coating. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, Wiry, weak at the left Kidney position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Liver and Kidney Yin to restore the body's cooling, moistening reserves that the eyes depend upon.

KI-3 ↑ BL-18 ↑ LR-3 ↑

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Kidney- and Liver-Yin deficiency — dry eyes is named as one of its diagnostic symptoms.

2. Lung Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dry, scratchy throat; a dry cough with minimal phlegm; a hoarse or weak voice; afternoon low-grade fever; dry eyes with a gritty sensation.

Tongue: Red, thin, dry surface, little coating. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, weak at the right Lung position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Lung-Yin to restore the Lung's ability to distribute moistening fluids upward to the eyes.

BL-13 ↑ LU-9 ↑

Note: no moxa. Matches Lung-Yin deficiency — dry cough, a hoarse/weak voice and a dry throat are shared, even though the deck slide doesn't name the eyes specifically.

3. Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dry, gritty eyes; a sticky or bitter mouth taste; bloating and fullness in the upper abdomen; sticky or incomplete bowel movements; a heavy sensation in the body and limbs.

Tongue: Red with a thick yellow greasy coating at the centre and root. Pulse: Soggy, Rapid, often Slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear the Damp-Heat obstruction blocking clear Yang and fluids from rising to the eyes.

Ren-12 ↓ ST-25 ↓ SP-9 ↓ ST-44 ↓

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

4. Qi and Yin Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Persistent fatigue and lack of strength; a dry mouth with little desire to drink; shortness of breath worsening with exertion; night sweats; a warm sensation in the palms and soles; dry eyes.

Tongue: Red or pale-red, thin or absent coating. Pulse: Fine, weak, possibly Rapid.

Treatment principle: Tonify both Qi and Yin, restoring the energy needed to transport fluids as well as the moisture itself.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ Ren-6 ↑

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site combines a generic Qi and Yin deficiency pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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