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Nodules

How Chinese medicine differentiates skin and subcutaneous nodules into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Lumps, Thyroid Nodules and Breast Lumps pages. 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 new nodule that grows quickly, is hard and fixed, or comes with weight loss or other systemic symptoms needs a proper medical examination first.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for skin or subcutaneous nodules — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
LIV-3Subdues Liver-Yang. Extinguishes interior Wind. Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind and releases the Exterior. Promotes the diffusing of Lung-Qi, regulates the Defensive Qi and sweating. Stops pain.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Promotes the function of the Liver and the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Liver Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Nodules that change size with stress; rib-side distension; chest tightness; frequent sighing; irritability; breast tenderness; a lump-in-the-throat sensation.
Tongue: Normal or slightly dark with red sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, like a guitar string.
Treatment principle: Soothes the Liver and relieves Qi stagnation.
LIV-3 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ SP-6 ⊥
Note: no moxa.

2. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain in the nodule area; distending chest or rib sensation; hard nodules painful to touch; dark or purplish lips and complexion.
Tongue: Purple or dark, stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis, moves Qi and opens the chest.
LIV-3 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ SP-10 ↓
Note: no moxa. No combined Qi-and-Blood-stagnation slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.

3. Phlegm in the Channels, Joints and Muscles

Clinical manifestations: Subcutaneous nodules or hard lumps near the joints; heavy or numb limbs; joint stiffness; purplish discoloration around the affected areas.
Tongue: Purple, stasis spots, white greasy coat, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy, or wiry and slippery.
Treatment principle: Transforms Phlegm and dissipates nodules; moves Qi and resolves stagnation.
ST-40 ↓ SP-10 ↓ SP-6 ↑
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. This site's decks have no Phlegm-in-the-channels slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

4. Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Stabbing, fixed pain worse at night; hard, immobile nodule; dark lips, nails and complexion.
Tongue: Purple or dusky, stasis spots, distended dark sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy, or wiry and choppy.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood, removes stasis, moves Qi and relieves pain.
BL-17 ↓ SP-10 ↓ LIV-3 ↓
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide per the discoloration-marker rule.

5. Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cold hands and feet, especially below the knees; early-morning diarrhea with undigested food; profound fatigue; nodules that feel cool and grow slowly.
Tongue: Pale, swollen, puffy, tooth-marked, white slippery coat. Pulse: Deep, weak, slow.
Treatment principle: Warms Yang, tonifies Blood and disperses Cold.
REN-4 ↑ ST-36 ↑ DU-4 ↑
Note: moxa is strongly indicated. Linked to this site's own Kidney-and-Spleen-Yang-deficiency slide.
Related conditions
Lumps Thyroid Nodules Breast Lumps

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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.