Facial Boils

How Chinese medicine differentiates facial boils into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Boils, Acne and Folliculitis pages. 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. Boils on the face, especially near the nose or upper lip, carry a small risk of spreading infection — a red, hot, rapidly growing or very painful boil needs prompt medical assessment.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for facial boils — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind and releases the Exterior. Promotes the diffusing of Lung-Qi, regulates the Defensive Qi and sweating. Stops pain.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Removes obstructions and Heat from the channel. Resolves Dampness.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Toxic-Heat Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Red, swollen, hot, painful boil with pus; high fever; intense thirst for cold drinks; dark scanty urine; constipation; restlessness and irritability.

Tongue: Deep red or crimson with prickly papillae, thick dry yellow coat. Pulse: Rapid and forceful, possibly overflowing.

Treatment principle: Clears Heat and resolves Fire toxin; cools the Blood; disperses swelling.

L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. This site's decks have no standalone Toxic-Heat slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

2. Summer-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Moist, burning boils that may ooze; flare-ups in hot, humid weather; intense thirst; heaviness in the body; irritability and restlessness.

Tongue: Red with a redder tip, yellow greasy or sticky coat. Pulse: Rapid and soggy.

Treatment principle: Clears Summer-Heat, transforms Dampness and expels exterior toxin.

L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. This site's decks have no Summer-Heat slide — no pattern link is given here.

3. Empty-Heat from Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Recurrent, slow-healing boils; dry mouth and throat, worse in the evenings; night sweats; heat in the palms, soles and chest; restlessness and insomnia.

Tongue: Red, thin, dry, cracked, little or no coat. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

Treatment principle: Nourishes Yin, generates fluids and cools deficiency Heat from the root.

KI-3 ↑ SP-6 ↑ L.I.-11 ⊥

Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency with heat signs).

4. Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Less red, less painful boils; thin, clear pus, or very slow healing; poor appetite with bloating after meals; loose stools; persistent fatigue; pale complexion.

Tongue: Pale, slightly puffy, tooth-marked, thin white coat. Pulse: Weak and soft, empty at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Tonifies Spleen Qi, strengthens digestion and drains Dampness.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ BL-20 ↑

Note: moxa is appropriate. Linked to this site's own Stomach-and-Spleen-Qi-deficiency slide.

5. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Boils heal very slowly with thin, clear oozing fluid; recurrent outbreaks over weeks or months; pale or sallow complexion; deep fatigue; poor appetite with loose stools.

Tongue: Pale, possibly thin with tooth marks, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine, weak, collapsing under light pressure.

Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi and Blood to support interior healing and gently expel residual toxin.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ L.I.-4 ⊥

Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Qi-and-Blood-deficiency slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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