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Fatigue

How Chinese medicine differentiates generalized fatigue, the six 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. Fatigue that is sudden, severe, unexplained, or accompanied by weight loss, fever, or other red-flag symptoms needs medical evaluation to rule out an underlying condition.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for fatigue — 12 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood, tonifies the Original Qi.
Ren-6Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi, tonifies Original Qi.
Du-20Raises Yang, benefits the Brain, lifts the Mind.
Du-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang, warms the Gate of Life (Ming Men), expels Cold.
Ren-4Strengthens the Kidneys, benefits Original Qi, nourishes Blood and Yin.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-17Nourishes Blood, invigorates Blood, tonifies Qi and Blood.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), benefits Essence.
P-6Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind, harmonizes the Stomach.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
LIV-3Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, subdues Liver-Yang, calms the Mind.
LIV-14Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, harmonizes Liver and Stomach.
The Six 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. Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fatigue that worsens with even mild exertion; shortness of breath on exertion; spontaneous sweating with little activity; a weak voice and reluctance to speak; a pale complexion; heavy, weak limbs; poor appetite; loose stools; brought on by overwork, chronic illness, poor diet, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, gentle exercise like walking or tai chi, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender body with scalloped tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Empty or Weak.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, raise sunken Yang.
Note: moxa applicable.

2. Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cold hands and feet with a strong desire for warmth; aversion to cold; craving warm drinks; loose stools; soreness in the lower back; a pale, puffy face; low motivation and mental sluggishness; generally cold limbs; brought on by chronic cold exposure, ageing, overwork, or a long illness; eased by warmth and warm clothing, warm food and drinks, rest, or moxibustion on the lower back and abdomen.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, moist body with tooth marks, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Weak.
Treatment principle: Tonify Kidney-Yang, warm the Gate of Life (Ming Men).
Note: moxa applicable.

3. Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A pale or sallow complexion with pale lips and nail beds; dizziness, especially on standing; heart palpitations; difficulty falling asleep with vivid dreaming; scanty, pale menstrual flow or missed periods; brought on by chronic blood loss, poor diet, overwork, or a long illness; eased by rest, iron-rich nourishing food, avoiding overexertion, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Pale, thin body, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine (thready), Weak, possibly Choppy.
Treatment principle: Nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen, tonify Qi.
Note: moxa applicable.

4. Qi and Yin Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: A dry mouth and throat with little desire to drink; night sweats; a warm sensation in the palms, soles and chest; heart palpitations; scanty, dark urine; brought on by chronic illness, overwork, insufficient sleep, or excessive sweating; eased by rest, cooling hydrating food, avoiding overheating, or a calm evening routine.
Tongue: Red or pale-red body, thin or absent coating, possibly cracked and dry. Pulse: Fine (thin), Weak, often Rapid.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, generate fluids, nourish Yin.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency).

5. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness

Clinical manifestations: A heavy feeling throughout the body and limbs; loose stools or diarrhoea; poor appetite with abdominal bloating; a heavy, muzzy feeling in the head; drowsiness, especially after meals; brought on by a diet heavy in raw, cold or greasy food, overthinking and worry, damp weather, or overwork; eased by warm, plainly-cooked food, avoiding cold raw food, rest after meals, or a dry warm environment.
Tongue: Pale, swollen body with tooth marks, white greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy, slowed-down, soft, lacking force.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, strengthen the Spleen, drain Dampness.
Tonify Spleen
Drain Dampness
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify-Spleen points; no deck slide matches this combined deficiency-plus-Dampness picture, so no pattern link is given here (verified — no equivalent found across all 11 pattern decks).

6. Liver-Qi Stagnation with Spleen-Qi Deficiency Transforming into Heat

Clinical manifestations: Distending or wandering pain along the ribs and flanks; abdominal bloating, especially after eating; irritability or a quick temper; a depressed, low mood; a bitter taste in the mouth; frequent sighing; brought on by stress and frustration, poor diet, suppressed emotions, or overwork; eased by gentle exercise, cooling food and drinks, talking through emotions, or a calm environment.
Tongue: Red body with redder sides, tooth marks, thin-to-moderately-thick, slightly greasy yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Soothe the Liver, clear Heat, support the Spleen.
Soothe Liver, clear Heat
Support Spleen
Note: no moxa on the Liver points; this exact combined pattern (Liver-Qi stagnation + Spleen-Qi deficiency + Heat) has no matching deck slide, so no pattern link is given here — consistent with the same finding on the IBS and Ulcerative Colitis pages.
Related conditions

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