Macules

How Chinese medicine differentiates facial macules (dark spots) into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each — distinct from this site's own Age Spots and Dark Face pages by presentation (flat pigmented patches rather than raised spots or overall complexion). 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 spot that changes shape, color, or size, bleeds, or looks different from the others needs prompt dermatological evaluation to rule out a skin cancer before assuming it is a simple macule.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for facial macules — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Invigorates Blood and regulates menstruation.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind. Stops pain. Removes obstructions from the channel.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.
SP-10	Cools Blood. Invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood. Cools Blood. Stops bleeding. Nourishes Blood.
ST-36	Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Stomach and Spleen.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach. Resolves Dampness. Lifts Spleen-Qi.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang). Strengthens the lower back and knees.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence. Strengthens the lower back.
DU-4	Tonifies Kidney-Yang and warms the Gate of Life. Expels Cold.
REN-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Uterus and regulates menstruation.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Liver Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Light to dark brown facial patches worsening with stress, irritability and mood swings, chest and rib distension, frequent sighing, breast tenderness or menstrual irregularities.

Tongue: Normal or slightly dark with red sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, taut like a guitar string.

Treatment principle: Smooth Liver Qi, clear stagnation Heat, harmonize the Blood.

LR-3 ↓ L.I.-4 ⊥ SP-6 ⊥

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

2. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dark, fixed macules with sharp borders, stabbing or distending chest/rib pain, painful periods with dark clotted blood, irritability and emotional tension.

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

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, move Qi to clear dark fixed macules.

SP-10 ↓ LR-3 ↓ BL-17 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide.

3. Spleen Deficiency With Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Pale, dusty or sallow complexion, macules on the nose, forehead, around the mouth, abdominal bloating, loose stools, poor appetite, heaviness and fatigue, sticky taste in the mouth without thirst.

Tongue: Pale and swollen with teeth marks, white greasy coating, moist surface. Pulse: Soggy and slow, soft and weak.

Treatment principle: Strengthen the Spleen, drain Dampness, restore channel flow to the face.

SP-6 ⊥ ST-36 ↑ SP-9 ↓ BL-20 ↑

Note: moxa applicable on ST-36/BL-20. This site has no combined Spleen-deficiency-with-Dampness slide, a gap confirmed absent many times over — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

4. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Irregular dark brown macules, dizziness and ringing in the ears, night sweats and heat in the palms/soles/chest, lower back and knee soreness/weakness, dry eyes with blurred vision, insomnia or restless sleep with vivid dreams.

Tongue: Red, thin body with cracks, little or no coating, dry surface. Pulse: Fine, rapid, often wiry, weak at the left Chi and Guan positions.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney and Liver Yin, clear deficiency Heat.

KI-3 ↑ SP-6 ⊥ BL-23 ↑ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Kidney-and-Liver-Yin-deficiency slide.

5. Kidney Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull, dark-colored macules, persistent cold sensation especially in the lower back and legs, frequent nighttime urination, fatigue and low energy, lower back and knee soreness/weakness.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender with teeth marks and wet white coating. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak, especially at the rear (Kidney) positions.

Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney Yang, restore the body's fire.

BL-23 ↑ DU-4 ↑ REN-4 ↑ KI-3 ↑

Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Kidney-Yang-deficiency slide.

Related conditions

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