Mastitis

How Chinese medicine differentiates mastitis, 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. Fever, a hardening red breast, or a suspected abscess needs urgent medical evaluation before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for mastitis — 7 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
ST-18	Benefits the breasts and reduces swelling. Moves Qi in the chest.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
G.B.-21	Relaxes the sinews. Benefits the breasts and promotes lactation.
S.I.-1	Expels Wind-Heat, clears Heat, promotes lactation.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Resolves Dampness.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Blood and Yin.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Liver Qi Stagnation Transforming into Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Breast fullness and mild pain, distension with a palpable knot, skin mildly red or normal; difficult milk expression; irritability; a bitter taste; a dry throat; constipation; dark, scanty urine. Worse with anger, stress or menstruation.

Tongue: Red, redder sides, thin to moderate yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry, Rapid, forceful at the left middle position.

Treatment principle: Address pent-up emotions blocking Liver-Qi while clearing Stomach-Heat to restore milk flow and reduce inflammation.

ST-18 ↓ LR-3 ↓ G.B.-21 ↓ S.I.-1 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Stagnant Liver-Qi turning into Heat — irritability and a feeling of heat are shared.

2. Toxic-Heat

Clinical manifestations: An intensely red, swollen, burning-hot breast with throbbing, knife-like pain; a high fever with chills; extreme thirst for cold drinks; pus formation or an abscess with a softening center.

Tongue: Red with prickly thorns, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, forceful, often Full or Overflowing.

Treatment principle: Clear intense toxic Fire, cool the Blood and drain pus before an abscess fully forms.

ST-18 ↓ G.B.-21 ↓ S.I.-1 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Toxic-Heat/Fire-poison category, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: A wound with persistent thin, watery discharge; extreme fatigue and lack of energy; a pale or sallow complexion; spontaneous sweating; a poor appetite; slow wound healing.

Tongue: Pale, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, weak.

Treatment principle: Rebuild depleted Qi and Blood to strengthen the body's capacity to expel residual toxins and heal the wound.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ ST-18 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. No deck on this site combines a generic Qi and Blood deficiency pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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