Neck Pain

How Chinese medicine differentiates neck pain, the six 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. Neck pain following trauma, with arm weakness/numbness, or with fever and neck stiffness needs medical evaluation. Most patterns here are musculoskeletal channel-obstruction patterns with no equivalent slide in this site's 11 organ-based pattern decks, so most patterns below are not linked to a deck slide; every point still links to its own points-deck entry.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for neck pain — 17 key points (plus one unlocated extra point), used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
G.B.-20	Expels exterior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat, benefits the head.
BL-12	Expels external Wind, regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi, strengthens the back.
Du-14	Clears Heat, releases the Exterior, expels exterior Wind, regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
G.B.-21	Removes obstructions from the channel, promotes the smooth flow of Qi, benefits the shoulder and upper back.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
Ren-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi, tonifies Original Qi.
BL-18	Moves Liver-Qi and eliminates stagnation, nourishes and invigorates Liver-Blood.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
BL-10	Extinguishes Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, expels exterior Wind, removes obstructions from the channel.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood, cools Blood, nourishes Blood.
EX-B-2 (Huatuojiaji)	A line of paravertebral extra points beside the spine; regulates Qi and Blood locally, relieves fixed pain and stiffness along the channel. No dedicated location page exists on this site for this extra point.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind, releases the Exterior, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
S.I.-3	Regulates the Governing Vessel, extinguishes interior Wind, expels exterior Wind, benefits sinews.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, opens the chest, subdues rebellious Qi.
ST-44	Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines, resolves Damp-Heat, calms the Mind.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines.

The Six 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. Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Stiffness and heaviness in the neck; pain distinctly worse in cold, damp, or windy weather; pain eased by warmth or gentle movement; aversion to wind and cold; possible numbness or tingling; brought on by sleeping with the neck exposed to a draft, air-conditioning, sudden cold exposure, or damp weather; eased by warmth and covering the neck, a warm compress, gentle stretching, or moxibustion.

Tongue: Pale or slightly swollen body, white greasy coating, moist surface. Pulse: Moderate or Tight, may be Floating or Soggy.

Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, disperse Wind-Cold, soften and relax the sinews.

G.B.-20 ↓ BL-12 ↓ Du-14 ↓ G.B.-21 ↓

Note: moxa applicable.

2. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, aching neck pain; worse with fatigue and overwork; a pale complexion and lips; dizziness or lightheadedness; poor appetite and general weakness; brought on by overwork, chronic illness, poor diet, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, gentle exercise, or moxibustion.

Tongue: Pale body, may be thin with tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, or Empty.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ Ren-6 ↑ Du-14 ↑

Note: moxa applicable.

3. Liver-Blood and Kidney-Essence Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Chronic, dull neck pain and stiffness; dizziness and blurred vision; soreness in the lower back and weak knees; premature greying or hair loss; scanty or absent menstruation; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, a long illness, or excessive strain; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, gentle strengthening exercise, or moxibustion.

Tongue: Pale, thin body, possible fine cracks, thin white or scanty coating. Pulse: Deep, Fine, Weak, especially at the Liver and Kidney positions.

Treatment principle: Dispel lingering Wind-Dampness while supplementing the Liver and Kidneys.

Tonify Liver-Kidney

BL-18 ↑ BL-23 ↑ KI-3 ↑

Local channel

BL-10 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on the tonifying points.

4. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Stabbing pain in a fixed spot in the neck; pain worse at night; aggravated by pressure on the area; a history of injury or chronic strain; brought on by an old injury, poor posture, prolonged strain, or overexertion; eased by gentle movement, warmth, avoiding prolonged static posture, or gentle massage once the acute pain settles.

Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coating. Pulse: Wiry and Choppy.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, move Qi, alleviate pain.

BL-17 ↓ EX-B-2 (Huatuojiaji) ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ S.I.-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. EX-B-2 (Huatuojiaji) is a paravertebral extra point with no dedicated location page on this site, shown here without a link.

5. Phlegm in the Channels, Joints and Muscles

Clinical manifestations: A heavy, numb sensation in the neck; fixed, deep aching or stabbing pain; stiffness with a sensation of swelling or lumps; worse with damp weather or inactivity; chest tightness with excessive phlegm; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy or sweet food, damp weather, a sedentary lifestyle, or chronic Spleen weakness; eased by warm, plainly-cooked food, staying active, a dry warm environment, or moxibustion.

Tongue: Purple body with stasis spots, white greasy coating, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and Choppy, or Slippery.

Treatment principle: Disperse Wind-Cold, drain Dampness, transform Phlegm, unblock the collaterals.

ST-40 ↓ G.B.-21 ↓ Du-14 ↓ SP-6 ↓

Note: moxa applicable.

6. Bright Yang Stomach Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning neck pain; aggravated by heat or pressure; intense thirst for cold drinks; a feeling of heat with a flushed face; profuse sweating; irritability; brought on by spicy or fried food, alcohol, a hot environment, or lingering unresolved Heat; eased by cool drinks, fresh air, avoiding spicy or fried food, or a cool environment.

Tongue: Red body, yellow dry coating. Pulse: Overflowing or Surging, Rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat from the Qi level, clear Stomach-Heat, generate fluids.

ST-44 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ Du-14 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓

Note: no moxa.

Related conditions

Spot an error, or have more to add? Send it to admin on WhatsApp and it'll be corrected/added here.

+91 99083 14510