Hip Pain (including Hip Bursitis)

How Chinese medicine differentiates hip pain as a Painful Obstruction (Bi Syndrome), 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. Inability to bear weight, sudden severe pain, or pain after a fall needs medical evaluation to rule out a fracture before assuming it is soft-tissue Bi syndrome.

General Acupuncture Points

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

Point	Key action
G.B.-30	Removes obstructions from the channel, resolves Dampness and expels Wind, tonifies Qi and Blood.
G.B.-34	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, benefits the sinews.
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-40	Removes obstructions from the channel — He-Sea point for the lower back and knee.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, subdues rebellious Qi.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Stabbing pain in a fixed location; pain worse with pressure or at night; a dark purplish complexion or lips.

Tongue: Purple or dark body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.

Treatment principle: Move Qi and invigorate Blood to unblock the channels and alleviate fixed pain.

G.B.-30 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓ SP-10 ↓ BL-40 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Liver-Blood stasis — dark purplish lips and a purple tongue with stasis spots are the same discoloration markers named there.

2. Painful Obstruction due to Damp-Heat in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: Burning pain in the hip; swelling that is hot to the touch; a heavy, aching sensation in the leg; thirst and dark, scanty urine.

Tongue: Red body, possibly slightly swollen, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and dry Dampness, clear Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.

G.B.-30 ↓ BL-40 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Damp-Heat Bi-syndrome category, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Phlegm in the Channels, Joints and Muscles

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing hip pain; a heavy, numb sensation in the hip and leg; firm, hard swelling around the joint; joint stiffness with difficulty bending.

Tongue: Purple body with stasis spots, white greasy coating, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy, or slippery.

Treatment principle: Transform Phlegm, invigorate Blood, and unblock the channels.

ST-40 ↓ G.B.-30 ↓ SP-10 ↓ ST-36 ⊥

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Phlegm-in-the-channels Bi-syndrome category, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: A dull, persistent hip ache; worse after exertion or standing; better with rest and lying down; general fatigue and lack of energy; a pale or sallow complexion.

Tongue: Pale body, possibly thin or with teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen to support tissue repair.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ BL-23 ↑ G.B.-30 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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