Panic Disorder

How Chinese medicine differentiates panic disorder, 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. New chest pain, breathlessness, or a racing heart should always be assessed medically to rule out a cardiac cause before assuming it is a panic attack.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for panic disorder — 6 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
SP-4	Regulates the Penetrating Vessel, calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices.
P-6	Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
Ren-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
Ren-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys and Original Qi.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), benefits Essence.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Chong Vessel Qi Rebellion

Clinical manifestations: A wave-like sensation of Qi rushing upward from the lower abdomen to the throat; heat in the face with cold feet; chest tightness and palpitations; anxiety with internal restlessness; a feeling of a lump in the throat; triggered by emotional shock, fright, stress, cold exposure, or overwork.

Tongue: Normal-colored with thin white coating, may be slightly pale. Pulse: Firm in all positions, notably hard and full in the middle (Guan) positions, wiry.

Treatment principle: Descend rebellious Qi, calm the Mind, regulate the Penetrating Vessel.

Descend rebellious Qi

SP-4 ↓ P-6 ↓ LR-3 ↓

Regulate the root

Ren-6 ⊥

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Penetrating-Vessel-specific Qi-rebellion category, so no pattern link is given here.

2. Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water Overflowing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A sensation of cold water or Qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the chest and throat; throbbing below the navel; cold hands and feet; sudden panic with palpitations and fear of dying; scanty urination and loose stools; lower back soreness and weakness.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, tooth-marked, white slippery coating, excessively wet surface. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak, especially at the Chi position.

Treatment principle: Warm Kidney-Yang, transform cold water, descend rebellious Qi.

Warm the root

BL-23 ↑ Ren-4 ↑ KI-3 ↑

Drain water, calm the Mind

SP-9 ↓ P-6 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on the Warm-the-root points. Direct match with Kidney-Yang deficiency, Water overflowing.

3. Rebellious Liver Qi View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A sensation of Qi rushing upward from the abdomen to the chest and throat; irritability and frequent sighing; belching or hiccups; distension or pain along the ribs; triggered by emotional stress, anger, or frustration.

Tongue: Normal or slightly red on the sides, thin white coating. Pulse: Wiry, especially prominent at the left middle position.

Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi stagnation, redirect rebellious Qi downward, calm the Mind.

LR-3 ↓ P-6 ↓ SP-4 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Rebellious Liver-Qi.

Related conditions

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