Heat Rash

How Chinese medicine differentiates heat rash (prickly heat/miliaria) into the four patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's own Sunburn page. 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. A rash with fever, spreading redness, or pus needs prompt medical evaluation before assuming a simple pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for heat rash — 10 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. Stops pain.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Resolves Dampness.
DU-14	Clears Heat. Releases the Exterior and expels exterior Wind.
BL-13	Stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung-Qi. Clears Heat.
SP-10	Cools Blood. Invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Opens the Water passages.
REN-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen. Resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang). Benefits Essence.
KI-6	Nourishes Kidney-Yin. Calms the Mind.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Red, oozing rash with oily skin, sticky or bitter taste, abdominal bloating and fullness, loose sticky stools with an incomplete feeling, heavy sluggish body sensation.

Tongue: Red body, possibly swollen with teeth marks, thick yellow greasy coating at the center and root. Pulse: Soggy and rapid, often slippery, strongest at the right Guan position.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and dry Dampness, targeting Stomach and Spleen to reduce the rash.

L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ DU-14 ↓ BL-13 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Matched to this site's own Damp-Heat-invading-the-Spleen slide.

2. Heat in the Blood

Clinical manifestations: Intensely red or purplish rash with a fierce burning sensation, intense itching worse with warmth, rash worsens at night, feeling of internal heat and restlessness, thirst for cold drinks.

Tongue: Deep red with red prickles, thin yellow dry coating or little coating. Pulse: Rapid and wiry.

Treatment principle: Excess Heat penetrates deep into the Blood level, agitating and forcing the Blood outward.

DU-14 ↓ L.I.-4 ⊥ L.I.-11 ⊥ SP-10 ↓

Note: no moxa. This site has no standalone Heat-in-the-Blood slide on any deck, a gap confirmed absent many times over this session — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

3. Spleen Deficiency With Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Pale or dull-red rash, recurrent episodes in warm weather, fatigue and lack of energy, poor appetite and abdominal bloating, loose stools.

Tongue: Pale, swollen body with teeth marks, white greasy coating, moist surface. Pulse: Soggy and slow, soft and lacking force.

Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen-Qi, strengthen the Spleen, drain Dampness.

SP-6 ⊥ ST-36 ↑ SP-9 ↓ REN-12 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on ST-36. This site has no combined Spleen-deficiency-with-Dampness slide, a gap confirmed absent many times over this session — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

4. Empty-Heat Caused by Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning, dry rash without oozing, worse at night or in hot weather, night sweats and five-palm heat, dry mouth and throat with desire for small sips.

Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with cracks, little or no coating. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

Treatment principle: Nourish Yin and clear deficiency Heat, addressing the root depletion of cooling, moistening Essence.

KI-3 ↑ KI-6 ↑ SP-6 ⊥ L.I.-11 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Matched to this site's own Kidney-Yin-deficiency-Empty-Heat-blazing slide.

Related conditions

Spot an error, or have more to add? Send it to admin on WhatsApp and it'll be corrected/added here.

+91 99083 14510