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Genital Herpes

How Chinese medicine differentiates genital herpes outbreaks — distinct from the oral/general Herpes Simplex page already covered, with its own five-pattern differentiation — and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs; antiviral medication remains standard care alongside any acupuncture support.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. A first-ever outbreak, outbreaks with fever or spreading infection, or any new genital lesion needs medical evaluation and diagnosis before assuming it is a simple pattern.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for genital herpes — 8 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat.
LR-2Clears Liver Fire, resolves Damp-Heat.
SP-6Resolves Dampness in the lower burner, nourishes Yin and Blood.
SP-9Drains Damp-Heat from the lower Jiao.
L.I.-11Clears Heat, cools Blood — major point for skin eruptions with fever.
SP-10Cools Blood, resolves toxin, reduces redness/swelling.
DU-14Clears heat, subdues yang for high fever.
L.I.-4Relieves pain, clears heat, supports detoxification.
KI-3Nourishes Kidney Yin to cool empty heat.
ST-36Strengthens Spleen and Stomach to generate Qi and Blood.
REN-6Boosts original Qi, supports healing.
REN-4Warms Kidney Yang and the lower burner, disperses Cold.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Damp-Heat in the Liver Channel View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning genital pain; clustered blisters with sticky yellow discharge; bitter taste; dark scanty urine; heaviness in lower body; rib-side fullness.
Tongue: Red body with redder sides, yellow greasy coating thicker at centre and root. Pulse: Wiry, slippery, rapid, especially wiry at left Guan.
Treatment principle: Drain excess Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder, clear Damp-Heat from the lower burner.
Note: no moxa. Direct match — the deck slide names genital papular/vesicular rashes and itching explicitly.

2. Toxic-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Intense burning genital pain; red swollen blisters with thick yellow pus; systemic fever and chills; intense thirst for cold drinks; restlessness and irritability.
Tongue: Red body with prickly thorns, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid and forceful, often slippery.
Treatment principle: Drain Fire, resolve toxicity, clear Heat from the Three Burners.
Note: no moxa. No standalone Toxic-Heat slide exists on this site, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Recurrent mild outbreaks with dry, less exudative sores; night sweats; dry mouth and throat especially at night; five-palm heat; restlessness.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with cracks, little or no coating. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin, clear deficiency heat.
Note: no moxa. Direct match, reusing the well-established Kidney-Yin/Empty-Heat slide.

4. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Persistent fatigue and low energy; pale or sallow complexion; slow-healing recurrent sores, less inflamed; dull lingering discomfort rather than sharp burning; dizziness, poor appetite.
Tongue: Pale body, may be thin or have teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, especially at right Guan.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, support the interior.
Note: moxa applicable throughout. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

5. Cold-Dampness in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Hard, dark, slow-healing sores not very red or hot; dull aching genital pain worse with cold and damp; profuse clear or white watery discharge; cold sensation in lower abdomen and limbs.
Tongue: Pale, swollen with teeth marks, thick white greasy coating, excessively moist. Pulse: Deep, slow, soggy, especially at the rear positions.
Treatment principle: Warm Yang, tonify Blood, disperse Cold.
Note: moxa strongly applicable, especially REN-4. Direct match with this site's Damp-Cold in the Bladder slide on the Lower Burner organ-system level, the same logic already used for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
Related conditions

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