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Eczema

How Chinese medicine differentiates eczema, the five 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. Signs of skin infection (spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever) need prompt medical evaluation.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for eczema — 11 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-11Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines, removes obstructions from the channel.
SP-10Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, releases the Exterior, stops pain.
Du-14Clears Heat, releases the Exterior, expels exterior Wind.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
BL-18Moves Liver-Qi and eliminates stagnation, nourishes and invigorates Liver-Blood.
The Five Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Damp-Heat Invading the Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Red, oozing papules and vesicles; intense itching that is worse with heat and humidity; stuffiness and fullness in the upper abdomen; sticky, loose stools or diarrhoea; a heavy, tired sensation in the body and limbs; a sticky or greasy taste in the mouth; brought on by hot humid weather, spicy or greasy food, alcohol, or a diet heavy in sweet food; eased by cool dry conditions, cooling food and drinks, avoiding alcohol and greasy food, or a cool environment.
Tongue: Red body, yellow greasy coating thickest at the centre and root, may be swollen with tooth marks. Pulse: Soggy, Rapid, or Slippery, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, drain Dampness, resolve toxicity, cool the skin.
Note: no moxa.

2. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Dull, darkish skin lesions with mild oozing or scaling; fatigue and a heavy, dragged-down feeling; poor appetite and bloating after eating; loose or unformed stools; thirst with no real desire to drink; brought on by irregular meals or overeating, cold raw food and drinks, overthinking and worry, or damp weather; eased by warm cooked food, regular mealtimes, rest after meals, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body with scalloped (tooth-marked) edges, white greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy, slightly Slow, Soft, Weak.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, strengthen the Spleen, drain Dampness.
Tonify Spleen
Drain Dampness
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify-Spleen points; no deck slide combines a deficiency presentation with Dampness signs in this pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Blood Deficiency with External Wind

Clinical manifestations: Dry, scaly, thickened skin; itching that comes and goes or moves around; itching worse at night; sensitivity or an aversion to wind and drafts; a pale or dull complexion; dizziness or light-headedness; brought on by a long-standing untreated skin condition, poor diet, chronic blood loss, or overwork; eased by rest, iron-rich nourishing food, moisturizing the skin, or avoiding drafts.
Tongue: Pale, thin body, thin white, slightly dry coating. Pulse: Fine overall, Wiry at the left middle position, Floating at the right front position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Blood, moisten dryness, dispel Wind, stop itching, tonify Qi, consolidate the Exterior.
Note: moxa applicable. No deck slide covers this exterior-Wind-on-skin presentation, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Wind-Heat

Clinical manifestations: A sudden outbreak of red papules; a burning sensation on the skin; intense itching; a sore, red throat; thirst with a desire to drink; a fever with mild chills; brought on by a sudden allergic reaction, insect bite, new food or product, or an acute Wind-Heat invasion; eased by cool compresses, cooling food and drinks, rest, or avoiding the trigger.
Tongue: Red tip and edges, thin yellow coating (or thin white transitioning to yellow). Pulse: Floating, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Dispel Wind, stop itching, clear Heat, drain Dampness.
Note: no moxa. This site's "Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs" slide is a respiratory pattern with no skin component, so it isn't a close enough match to link here.

5. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dry, thin skin with fine scaling or mild redness; itching worse at night; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; dizziness, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision; night sweats with heat in the palms, soles and chest; a dry mouth and throat; insomnia or restless sleep; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, excessive sexual activity, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, avoiding stimulants in the evening, or a calm quiet environment before bed.
Tongue: Red, thin body with cracks, little or no coating, dry surface. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, Wiry.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, supplement Liver and Spleen Yin, benefit Essence and fill the Marrow.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency).
Related conditions

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