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Night Sweats

How Chinese medicine differentiates night sweats, the five 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. Night sweats with unexplained weight loss, fever, or swollen lymph nodes need medical evaluation to rule out an underlying condition.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for night sweats — 11 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
HE-6Nourishes Heart-Yin, clears Empty-Heat of the Heart, stops sweating, calms the Mind.
KI-7Tonifies the Kidneys, resolves Dampness, strengthens the lower back, regulates sweating.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
HE-7Calms the Mind, nourishes Heart-Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Ren-6Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi, tonifies Original Qi.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
LIV-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
LIV-2Drains Liver-Fire, subdues Liver-Yang, cools Blood.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
The Five 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. Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Night sweats that drench the pillow and stop upon waking; an afternoon or evening tidal fever; a hot sensation in the palms, soles and chest; a dry mouth and throat, worse at night; a malar flush; insomnia and restlessness; thirst with a desire to sip small amounts of water; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, a long illness, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, cooling hydrating food, avoiding overheating, or a calm evening routine.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with cracks and little or no coating. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, weak on deep pressure.
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin, clear deficiency Heat, secure the Exterior.
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency).

2. Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations or a fluttering in the chest; insomnia with excessive dreaming; poor appetite and bloating after eating; a pale or yellowish complexion; loose stools; mental and physical fatigue; night sweats; brought on by overthinking and worry, poor diet, overwork, or chronic illness; eased by rest and avoiding overthinking, warm nourishing food, gentle exercise, or calming meditation.
Tongue: Pale, puffy, tooth-marked body with thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, especially empty at the left Cun (Heart) and soft at the right Guan (Spleen) positions.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen.
Note: moxa applicable.

3. Qi and Yin Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Night sweats; fatigue and a lack of strength; shortness of breath, worse with exertion; a dry mouth with little desire to drink; warm palms, soles and chest; spontaneous daytime sweating; poor appetite; palpitations or fluttering; weakness in the lower back and knees; brought on by overwork, chronic illness, a long illness, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, moistening nourishing food, and avoiding overexertion.
Tongue: Red or pale-red body, thin or absent coating, possibly cracked and dry. Pulse: Fine, Weak, possibly Rapid.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Yin, generate fluids, secure the Exterior.
Note: no moxa. No deck slide combines Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency into one pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Liver and Gallbladder Damp-Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sticky, yellow-tinged sweat; a bitter taste in the mouth; pain or distension below the ribs; dark yellow or scanty urine; a heavy, sluggish sensation in the body; irritability and restlessness; night sweats; brought on by hot humid weather, spicy or greasy food, alcohol, or stress; eased by cooling food and drinks, rest, avoiding alcohol and spicy food, or a cool environment.
Tongue: Red body, redder at the sides, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Slippery, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Drain Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gall Bladder, clear Fire, reduce internal steaming.
Note: no moxa.

5. Deficiency of Both Kidney Yin and Yang

Clinical manifestations: Night sweats with cold hands and feet; alternating chills and hot flushes; deep fatigue and a lack of vitality; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; dizziness and ringing in the ears; frequent urination at night; an aversion to cold; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, a long illness, or excessive strain on the Kidneys; eased by rest, warmth on the lower back, warm nourishing food, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale, puffy-tender body with tooth marks and cracks, thin white coating (possibly partially peeled). Pulse: Deep, Fine, Weak, especially at the Chi (rear) position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Kidney-Yang, nourish Kidney-Yin, drain Ministerial Fire.
Tonify Yang
Tonify Yin
Note: moxa applicable on BL-23 only; no deck slide combines both Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang deficiency in one pattern, so no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions

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