Excessive Gas and Flatulence

How Chinese medicine differentiates excessive gas and flatulence, the three 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. Gas with severe pain, blood in the stool, or unintended weight loss needs medical evaluation before assuming it is a simple digestive pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for excessive gas and flatulence — 7 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
ST-25	Front-Mu point of the Large Intestine, directly regulates intestinal Qi.
ST-36	Strengthens Spleen and Stomach to support proper Qi movement downward.
LR-3	Smooths Liver Qi, preventing emotional tension from worsening stagnation.
REN-6	Tonifies Qi and moves stagnation in the lower abdomen.
P-6	Harmonizes Stomach, descends rebellious Qi, eases chest tightness.
REN-12	Regulates Stomach Qi at its alarm point, reducing bloating and gas.
L.I.-4	Clears heat and moves Qi, alleviates abdominal pain.
ST-44	Clears heat from the Stomach and Intestine, reducing foul gas.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Large Intestine Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Excessive, frequent flatulence with abdominal distension that shifts location, cramping pain relieved by passing gas or bowel movement, belching and loud stomach rumbling, worse with emotional stress.

Tongue: Normal light red body with a thin white coating. Pulse: Wiry, especially tense at left middle.

Treatment principle: Move stagnant Qi downward and restore the Large Intestine's descending function.

ST-25 ↓ ST-36 ⊥ LR-3 ↓ REN-6 ↑

Note: no moxa except REN-6. Direct name match with this site's own Qi-Stagnation-in-the-Large-Intestine slide.

2. Liver Qi Stagnation Invading the Stomach View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Frequent belching and flatulence, distending upper abdominal pain radiating to ribs, irritability, moodiness, frequent sighing, sensation of a lump in the throat, worse with stress.

Tongue: Normal or slightly red body, may have redder sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, especially at left middle.

Treatment principle: Soothe stagnant Liver Qi and harmonize its relationship with the Stomach.

LR-3 ↓ P-6 ⊥ REN-12 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct name match with this site's own Rebellious-Liver-Qi-invading-the-Stomach slide.

3. Heat in the Large Intestine View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Foul-smelling flatulence, constipation with hard, dry stools, burning sensation at the anus, abdominal pain worse with pressure, afternoon fever or feeling of heat.

Tongue: Red body with a thick, dry yellow coating (may be brownish or black in severe cases), often with prickly papillae. Pulse: Deep, full, and rapid, may feel slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear accumulated heat from the Large Intestine and open the bowels.

ST-25 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ ST-44 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct name match with this site's own Heat-in-the-Large-Intestine slide.

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