Inguinal Hernia

How Chinese medicine differentiates an inguinal hernia into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's own Hernia and Groin Pain pages. 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 hernia that becomes hard, red, or cannot be pushed back in needs emergency care — acupuncture here is supportive of the underlying pattern, never a substitute for surgical repair when that's needed.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for an inguinal hernia (supportive, alongside medical evaluation) — 12 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
DU-20	Raises Yang. Benefits the Brain and the sense organs.
REN-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang. Raises sinking Qi.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Invigorates Blood.
LR-1	Regulates menstruation. Resolves Damp-Heat in the genitourinary system. Promotes resuscitation.
REN-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys.
ST-30	Regulates Qi in the Lower Burner. Regulates the Penetrating Vessel. Subdues rebellious Qi.
ST-25	Regulates the Intestines. Moves Qi and invigorates Blood. Resolves Dampness.
ST-37	Regulates the Stomach and Intestines and resolves retention of Food. Eliminates Damp-Heat.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Opens the Water passages.
LR-2	Drains Liver-Fire and subdues Liver-Yang. Resolves Damp-Heat in the genitourinary system.
REN-3	Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner. Benefits the Uterus and regulates menstruation.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Bulge appears with standing or straining, disappears when lying down, bearing-down heavy sensation in the lower abdomen, profound fatigue and weakness especially after exertion, pale sallow complexion and low weak voice, poor appetite and chronic loose stools.

Tongue: Pale, puffy body with teeth marks along the edges, thin white coat. Pulse: Empty and weak overall, especially at the right Guan (Spleen) position.

Treatment principle: Tonifies the Middle and augments Qi, raises sunken Yang, lifts sunken Qi.

DU-20 ↑ REN-6 ↑ ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ⊥

Note: moxa strongly indicated throughout. Matched to this site's own Spleen-Qi-sinking slide via the source's own name.

2. Liver Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Distending, moving groin pain, worsens with emotional stress, irritability or frequent sighing, abdominal bloating.

Tongue: Normal or slightly dark body, red or slightly purple on the sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, most noticeable at the left middle (Liver) position.

Treatment principle: Courses the Liver and resolves constraint, moves Qi and alleviates pain, invigorates Blood and dispels stasis.

LR-3 ↓ SP-6 ⊥ REN-6 ⊥

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

3. Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cold, fixed pain in the groin or scrotum, pain worsens with cold and improves with warmth, scrotal contraction or testicular cold pain, feeling of cold in the lower belly, cold limbs or sensitivity to chills.

Tongue: Pale body with white, slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, wiry, and slow or tight, especially at the left Guan (Liver) position.

Treatment principle: Warms the Liver and Kidneys, moves Qi and alleviates pain, warms the Liver channel and dispels Cold.

LR-1 ↑ REN-4 ↑ ST-30 ⊥

Note: moxa strongly indicated throughout. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Stagnation-of-Cold-in-the-Liver-channel slide.

4. Small Intestine-Qi Pain View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Twisting or cramping pain in the lower abdomen, gurgling or rumbling intestinal sounds, pain relieved by passing gas, pain that moves or shifts location, worsens with emotional upset, dislike of pressure on the abdomen.

Tongue: Normal body, thin white coat. Pulse: Deep and wiry, possibly tight if Cold is present.

Treatment principle: Moves Qi and resolves stagnation, purges Heat and unblocks the bowels, clears Heat and dries Dampness.

ST-25 ↓ ST-37 ↓ LR-3 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Small-Intestine-Qi-pain slide.

5. Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Red, hot, tender bulge in the groin, scrotal dampness or itching, foul-smelling discharge from the area, lower abdominal fullness and distension, thirst with no desire to drink, heavy sensation in the legs.

Tongue: Red, slightly swollen, with yellow greasy coating thickest at the root. Pulse: Slippery and rapid, possibly soggy, especially at the rear (Chi) position.

Treatment principle: Drains excess Fire from Liver and Gallbladder, clears Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner, clears Heat from the Liver channel.

SP-9 ↓ LR-2 ↓ REN-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Damp-Heat-in-the-Liver slide, which this session confirmed is genital-specific in its own text — a direct match here, reinforced by the source's own scrotal dampness/itching symptom.

Related conditions

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