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Hemorrhoids

How Chinese medicine differentiates hemorrhoids, the four 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. Persistent rectal bleeding needs medical evaluation to rule out other causes; acupuncture is a complementary, not a replacement, approach.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for hemorrhoids — 7 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
Erbai (EX-UE-2)Local point traditionally used for hemorrhoids. No dedicated location page on this site.
BL-57Relaxes the sinews and removes obstructions from the channel. Treats haemorrhoids.
Du-1Regulates the two lower orifices. Resolves Dampness.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
SP-10Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Du-20Raises Yang. Lifts the Mind. Benefits the Brain.
The Four 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. Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning pain in the anus; dark or sticky, foul-smelling stools; heaviness in the legs and lower body; thirst with little desire to drink; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy, spicy, or alcoholic food, or damp weather; eased by cooling foods and a drier environment.
Tongue: Red with a yellow greasy coating, thickest at the root. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid, possibly Soggy, more pronounced at the Chi (rear) position.
Treatment principle: Clear Damp-Heat from the lower burner, strengthen the Spleen.
Note: no moxa.

2. Heat in the Large Intestine

Clinical manifestations: Fresh red bleeding that drips or spurts; constipation with dry, hard stools; a burning sensation in the anus; thirst with a craving for cold drinks; afternoon tidal fever; abdominal fullness and pain that worsens with pressure; brought on by a diet of spicy, rich, or heating food, or chronic constipation; eased by cool fluids and softer stools.
Tongue: Red with prickly papillae, thick dry yellow coating. Pulse: Deep, full and forceful, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat, cool the Blood, stop bleeding in the Large Intestine.
Erbai BL-57 Du-1
Note: no moxa. This site's Large Intestine Heat slides describe constipation and fever without the hallmark hemorrhoid bleeding, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Prolapsed hemorrhoids that are dark purple, hard, and tender; fixed, stabbing pain that worsens with pressure; dark-colored bleeding; worsened by prolonged sitting or constipation; brought on by long-standing untreated stagnation, or a sedentary lifestyle; eased by gentle movement and avoiding prolonged sitting.
Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry, Choppy.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, relieve pain by moving local circulation.
Erbai BL-57 SP-10
Note: no moxa. The closest candidates on this site — Large Intestine Qi stagnation and Liver-Blood stasis — are either pure Qi stagnation with no bleeding or purple-tongue signs, or gynecological/hepatic-framed with no anal/prolapse content, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Spleen-Qi Sinking View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A bearing-down or dragging sensation in the anus; prolapse requiring manual reduction; pale, oozing blood rather than fresh red spurting; chronic fatigue and weak limbs; poor appetite and abdominal bloating after eating; brought on by chronic Spleen weakness, prolonged standing or straining, or long-term overwork; eased by rest and lying down.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender, tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Weak and forceless, especially at the right middle (Guan) position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen-Qi, raise sinking Qi to lift the prolapsed tissue.
Note: moxa applicable.
Related conditions

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