Kidney Stones (Urolithiasis)

How Chinese medicine differentiates kidney stones, the three 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. Severe flank pain, fever, or an inability to urinate needs urgent medical evaluation before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for kidney stones — 6 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
Ren-3	Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner. Promotes the Bladder function of Qi transformation.
BL-28	Regulates the Bladder, resolves Dampness in the Lower Burner, strengthens the lower back.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), benefits Essence.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

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

Clinical manifestations: Sharp, stabbing flank or lower abdominal pain radiating to the groin; burning or stinging urination; dark, cloudy urine with visible sand-like particles; frequent, urgent urination with scanty output; heaviness in the lower belly and legs; irritability.

Tongue: Red body with a yellow greasy coating, thickest at the root. Pulse: Slippery and rapid, more pronounced at the Chi (rear) position.

Treatment principle: Clear Damp-Heat, promote urination, expel stones.

Ren-3 ↓ BL-28 ↓ SP-6 ↓ BL-23 ⊥ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Damp-Heat in the Bladder.

2. Blood Stagnation with Heat

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing lower back/abdominal pain, worse at night and with pressure; dark-red or clotted blood in the urine; an internal heat sensation; restlessness; irritability.

Tongue: Reddish-purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin dry yellow coat. Pulse: Choppy and rapid, often wiry.

Treatment principle: Break Blood stasis, clear Heat, relieve sharp pain.

Ren-3 ↓ SP-6 ↓ SP-10 ↓ BL-28 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Blood-stasis-with-Heat category, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Kidney Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull lower back soreness; night sweats; dry mouth and throat; scanty, dark urine; heat in the palms and soles; dizziness or tinnitus; chronic or recurrent stone formation.

Tongue: Red body, thin, dry, little or no coating, possible cracks. Pulse: Fine and rapid, weak at the left rear position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, clear deficiency Heat, restore urinary tract lubrication.

BL-23 ↑ KI-3 ↑ Ren-3 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Kidney-Yin deficiency.

Related conditions

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