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Erectile Dysfunction

How Chinese medicine differentiates erectile dysfunction, the seven 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. Erectile dysfunction can have underlying medical causes (cardiovascular, hormonal, medication side effects) that need ruling out; acupuncture is a complementary, not a replacement, approach.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for erectile dysfunction — 18 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
Du-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang, warms the Gate of Life. Benefits Essence.
Ren-4Strengthens the Kidneys, benefits Original Qi, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
KI-6Nourishes Kidney-Yin, clears Empty-Heat, regulates the uterus and menstruation.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
P-6Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
HE-7Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices. Nourishes Heart-Blood.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
LR-14Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi and harmonizes Liver and Stomach.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
LR-2Drains Liver-Fire, resolves Damp-Heat, cools Blood.
SP-10Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-17Invigorates and cools Blood, tonifies Qi and Blood, benefits the sinews.
G.B.-34Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Removes obstruction from the channel.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness throughout the body.
The Seven 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. Kidney-Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cold, aching lower back and knees; a pervasive feeling of cold, especially in the lower body; weak or absent erections; low libido; frequent urination at night; a pale or dark complexion; fatigue and low spirits; brought on by ageing, chronic illness, or long-term overwork depleting Kidney-Yang; eased by warmth and rest.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth-marked, wet white coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak, especially at the rear position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Kidney-Yang, benefit Essence, fill the marrow, warm the Gate of Life (Ming Men) fire.
Note: moxa applicable.

2. Kidney-Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Weak erections lacking firmness; night sweats; a hot sensation in the palms, soles, and chest; a dry mouth and throat, worse at night; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; dizziness; tinnitus; brought on by chronic overwork, ageing, or a long illness consuming Kidney-Yin; eased by rest and cooling foods.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry, little or no coating, possible cracks. Pulse: Fine, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, benefit Essence, fill the marrow, nourish Blood.
Note: no moxa.

3. Heart and Spleen Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: A weak, limp erection that fades quickly; palpitations or an awareness of the heartbeat; poor appetite with bloating; fatigue and mental exhaustion; a pale or sallow complexion; insomnia with vivid dreams; anxiety or being easily startled; brought on by chronic overthinking, long-term stress, or a long illness depleting Heart and Spleen; eased by rest, a calm routine, and nourishing food.
Tongue: Pale, tender, tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, especially at the Heart and Spleen positions.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen and calm the Mind.
Calm the Mind
Tonify Qi and Blood
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. The closest deck slide, "Spleen- and Heart-Blood deficiency," matches the general symptom picture closely but has no sexual or erectile content, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Liver-Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Erectile difficulty that fluctuates with emotional state; distension or pain along the ribs; frequent sighing; irritability or a low mood; brought on by stress, frustration, or suppressed emotion; eased by gentle exercise, emotional release, or a calmer routine.
Tongue: Normal or slightly dark, red or purplish sides, thin white coating. Pulse: Wiry, like a taut guitar string.
Treatment principle: Course the Liver, resolve constraint, move Qi, invigorate Blood and dispel stasis.
Note: no moxa.

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

Clinical manifestations: A soft, limp erection; scrotal dampness and itching; a bitter or sticky taste in the mouth; sticky, foul-smelling stools; a heavy, dragging sensation in the legs; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy, spicy, or alcoholic food, or damp weather; eased by cooling foods and a drier environment.
Tongue: Red, slightly swollen, yellow greasy coating thickest at the root. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid, Soggy at the rear position.
Treatment principle: Drain excess Fire from the Liver and Gall Bladder, clear Damp-Heat from the lower burner.
Note: no moxa.

6. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain in the lower abdomen, perineum, or lower back; pain or erectile difficulty that worsens at night; dark, purplish lips, nails, or complexion; an erection that may be painful or feel obstructed; brought on by long-standing untreated stagnation, injury, or chronic Qi stagnation congealing the Blood; eased by gentle movement and warmth.
Tongue: Purple or dusky, stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coating. Pulse: Choppy, often Wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, move Qi and alleviate pain.
Invigorate Blood
Support
Note: no moxa. This site's "Liver-Blood stasis" slide remains gynecological/hepatic-framed with no lower-abdomen/perineum or erectile content, so no pattern link is given here.

7. Phlegm in Kidneys or Gall Bladder

Clinical manifestations: Heaviness in the body or head; nausea or a sensation of something stuck in the throat; being overweight; a feeling of fullness or oppression below the ribs; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy or sweet food, a sedentary lifestyle, or chronic Spleen weakness feeding Phlegm production; eased by warm, plainly-cooked food and staying active.
Tongue: Pale or normal, swollen with tooth marks, white greasy or slippery coating. Pulse: Slippery, Wiry.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, transform Phlegm, clear Liver and Gall Bladder Heat, harmonize the Stomach.
Transform Phlegm, clear Heat
Support
Note: no moxa. Neither the Kidney nor Gall Bladder deck has a Phlegm-titled pattern slide, so no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions

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