Head Lice

How Chinese medicine differentiates the scalp itching and irritation that follows head lice — distinct from Dandruff and Itchy Skin already covered — the four patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs, used as supportive care for lingering scalp irritation alongside proper treatment of the lice themselves, never as a substitute for it.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Head lice need a proper medicated shampoo/lotion and nit-combing to actually clear (household and close contacts often need checking too); acupuncture here is supportive for lingering scalp itch and irritation only, alongside that treatment.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for scalp itching related to head lice — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
G.B.-20	Dispels Wind and clears Heat from the head.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat from the whole body and cools the Blood.
L.I.-4	Releases the exterior and expels Wind-Heat.
ST-36	Strengthens the Spleen to transform Dampness.
SP-10	The Sea of Blood point; directly cools the Blood and relieves itching.
PC-3	Clears Heat from the Heart and Blood, calming restlessness.
DU-20	Calms the head and clears Heat from the vertex.
LR-3	Subdues rising Liver-Yang and calms the mind, addressing the root of Fire.
LR-2	Drains Liver-Fire directly, reducing scalp Heat and itching.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Wind-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Burning sensation on the scalp, redness and visible inflammation, itching worse with heat, crawling sensation on the head, mild fever or sore throat possible, thirst with desire for cool fluids.

Tongue: Red at the tip and edges with a thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating and rapid.

Treatment principle: Disperse Wind-Heat, clear Heat from the head.

G.B.-20 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓

Note: no moxa. This is an exterior Wind-Heat scalp eruption, not a respiratory invasion — this site has no skin/scalp-specific Wind-Heat slide, so no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

2. Wind-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Scalp feels heavy as if wrapped in damp cloth, sticky persistent itching moving around the head, excessive greasy or sticky dandruff, symptoms worsen in humid or rainy weather.

Tongue: Normal or slightly pale body with a white greasy coating, may be slightly swollen. Pulse: Floating and soggy, or slippery.

Treatment principle: Disperse Wind, drain Dampness, alleviate itching.

L.I.-11 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ ST-36 ↑ G.B.-20 ↓

Note: no moxa. This site has no organ-nonspecific Wind-Damp slide, a gap confirmed absent many times over — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

3. Heat in the Blood

Clinical manifestations: Intense itching with scratching producing crusts and scabs, scalp redness and distinct sensation of Heat, itching and Heat sensation worse at night, restlessness and irritability.

Tongue: Red body with red spots or prickles, thin yellow dry coating. Pulse: Rapid, wiry, and possibly slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat from the Blood, stop bleeding, address underlying Blood-Heat driving scalp inflammation.

SP-10 ↓ PC-3 ↓ DU-20 ↓

Note: no moxa. This site has no standalone Blood-Heat slide on any deck, the same gap noted for Petechiae in this same batch — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

4. Liver-Fire Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Throbbing temple or crown headache, red burning or painful eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, intense irritability and short temper, scalp red patches and burning pain.

Tongue: Red body with redder sides, dry yellow coating, possible red prickles. Pulse: Wiry, rapid, and forceful, especially in the left Guan position.

Treatment principle: Drain excess Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder, clear Heat from the Liver channel.

LR-3 ↓ LR-2 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Liver-Fire-blazing slide.

Related conditions

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