Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

How Chinese medicine differentiates deep vein thrombosis — a blood clot in a deep vein, usually the lower leg or thigh — into the three patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Supportive care alongside urgent medical management, not a substitute for it. 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. DVT is a medical emergency risk (a clot can travel to the lungs as a pulmonary embolism) — anyone with suspected DVT needs immediate medical evaluation and treatment (usually anticoagulation) first; acupuncture here is supportive of circulation and the underlying pattern during recovery, never a substitute for that care.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for DVT (supportive, alongside medical treatment) — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Nourishes Blood and Yin.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Benefits the Lower Burner.
G.B.-34	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Resolves Damp-Heat. Benefits the sinews.
ST-36	Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Stomach and Spleen.
SP-10	Cools Blood. Invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Invigorates Blood and regulates menstruation.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence. Strengthens the lower back.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach. Resolves Dampness. Lifts Spleen-Qi.
DU-4	Tonifies Kidney-Yang and warms the Gate of Life. Expels Cold.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Swollen leg with distending, hot pain, skin over the clot appears dark-red and warm, heavy dragging sensation in the limb, thirst without desire to drink much.

Tongue: Red body with thick yellow greasy coating at the root, slightly swollen. Pulse: Slippery and rapid, may feel soggy, pronounced at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat, resolve toxicity, invigorate Blood circulation.

SP-6 ⊥ SP-9 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Matched to this site's own Damp-Heat-in-the-Bladder slide via the established Lower-Burner organ-system convention.

2. Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain in the leg, worse at night and with pressure, heavy swollen sensation, purplish-dark skin or bruise-like patches, palpable hard lump along the vein.

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

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood circulation, dispel stasis, nourish tissues.

SP-10 ↓ SP-6 ⊥ LR-3 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide.

3. Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull, aching leg pain, swelling worsens in the evening, cold limbs with aversion to cold, sore lower back and weak knees, pale puffy leg without redness, chronic loose stools, fatigue and poor appetite.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, puffy with teeth marks and white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, weak, thready, especially feeble at both rear positions.

Treatment principle: Warm Yang, disperse Cold, promote urination to drain Dampness.

BL-23 ↑ BL-20 ↑ DU-4 ↑ ST-36 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Kidney-and-Spleen-Yang-deficiency slide.

Related conditions

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