Postconcussion Syndrome

How Chinese medicine differentiates postconcussion syndrome, the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs, and only as supportive care alongside medical follow-up.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Any head injury needs medical evaluation first, and worsening symptoms (severe headache, vomiting, confusion) need urgent care. Acupuncture here is supportive care for lingering symptoms once serious injury has been ruled out.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for postconcussion syndrome — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
Du-20	Raises Yang, benefits the Brain, lifts the Mind.
G.B.-20	Expels exterior Wind, extinguishes interior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang.
L.I.-4	Removes obstructions from the channel, stops pain.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, subdues rebellious Qi.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
P-6	Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), benefits Essence.
HE-7	Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices, nourishes Heart-Blood.
Ren-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys and Original Qi.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing headache worsened by stress or anger; dizziness; irritability; poor memory and mental fog; purple or dark lips/nail beds.

Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, dispel stasis, open the orifices, restore Qi and Blood flow to the head.

Du-20 ↓ EX-HN-1 (Sishengcong) ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Liver-Blood stasis — purple/dark lips and nail beds are the same discoloration markers named there.

2. Turbid Phlegm Blocks the Orifices

Clinical manifestations: Heavy-headedness, a sensation of the head being wrapped; mental fog; rattling phlegm; chest tightness; worse in damp weather.

Tongue: Pale, swollen with teeth marks, thick white greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery and wiry.

Treatment principle: Transform Phlegm, dry Dampness, strengthen the Spleen, open the sensory orifices.

Du-20 ↓ ST-40 ↓ Ren-12 ↓ P-6 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Phlegm-blocking-the-orifices/Mind category framed around head trauma, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Kidney Essence Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; poor memory; dizziness and tinnitus; profound fatigue; frequent nighttime urination.

Tongue: Pale, thin body, little coating, fine cracks. Pulse: Fine, deep, weak at the Chi positions.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney Essence, replenish the Sea of Marrow.

BL-23 ↑ KI-3 ↑ Du-20 ↑ EX-HN-1 (Sishengcong) ↑

Note: moxa applicable. Direct match with Kidney-Essence deficiency.

4. Liver Wind Agitating Internally Due to Liver Yang Rising View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sudden, severe vertigo with a falling sensation; hand or head tremors; a stiff neck with throbbing headache; irritability; vivid, disturbing dreams; worse with stress and anger.

Tongue: Red, stiff or trembling body, possibly deviated, thin yellow coat. Pulse: Wiry, fine, rapid.

Treatment principle: Calm the Liver, subdue Yang, extinguish internal Wind.

LR-3 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ Du-20 ↓ HE-7 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Liver-Yang rising — a stiff neck, irritability, headache and tinnitus/dizziness are shared.

5. Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dull, pressure-like headache, improved by warmth; mental dullness; cold hands and feet; profound fatigue; a pale, puffy face.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, moist with teeth marks, white slippery coat. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak.

Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney-Yang, restore the body's warming fire.

Du-20 ↑ Ren-4 ↑ ST-36 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. Direct match with Kidney-Yang deficiency.

Related conditions

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