Low Back Pain

How Chinese medicine differentiates low back pain, 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. Low back pain with numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder/bowel control needs urgent medical evaluation, not acupuncture first.

General Acupuncture Points

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

Point	Key action
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Essence.
Du-4	Tonifies Kidney-Yang, warms the Gate of Life, tonifies Original Qi.
Du-3	Strengthens the lower back and legs, tonifies Yang.
SP-9	Resolves Dampness, benefits the Lower Burner.
BL-40	Clears Heat, cools Blood, removes obstructions from the channel.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood, opens the chest and diaphragm.
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.

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. Kidney-Essence Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dull, persistent low back ache; sore and weak knees; premature greying or hair loss; brought on by overwork, prolonged sitting or standing, excessive sexual activity, or cold or raw food; eased by rest, warmth, kidney-nourishing food, or gentle exercise.

Tongue: Pale, thin body, little or no coating, possible fine cracks. Pulse: Fine, Deep.

Treatment principle: Tonify Kidney-Essence.

BL-23 ↑ KI-3 ↑ Du-4 ↑

Note: moxa applicable.

2. Cold-Dampness in the Lower Burner

Clinical manifestations: Dull, cold, heavy low back pain; a heaviness or dragging sensation; cold limbs; brought on by cold or damp weather, sitting on cold surfaces, or cold or raw food; eased by warmth, dry weather, gentle stretching, or ginger tea.

Tongue: Pale, swollen body with tooth marks, thick white greasy coating. Pulse: Deep, Slow, Soggy.

Treatment principle: Warm the interior, dispel Cold and Dampness.

BL-23 ↓ Du-3 ↓ Du-4 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: reducing method with moxa (Excess-Cold — expel the pathogen while warming).

3. Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner

Clinical manifestations: A burning or hot sensation; heaviness; dark, scanty urination; thirst without a desire to drink; brought on by hot humid weather, greasy, spicy or fried food, alcohol, or strenuous activity; eased by cool dry weather, a light diet, or gentle movement.

Tongue: Red body, slightly swollen, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat, resolve Dampness.

BL-23 ↓ BL-40 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: no moxa.

4. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing or boring pain in one spot, worse at night; brought on by cold or damp weather, prolonged sitting or standing, heavy lifting, or sudden twisting; eased by gentle stretching, warmth, or gentle self-massage.

Tongue: Dark Purple body, possible stasis spots, distended and dark sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy, often Wiry.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, resolve stasis.

BL-17 ↓ BL-40 ↓ SP-10 ↓

Note: no moxa.

Related conditions

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