Postherpetic Neuralgia

How Chinese medicine differentiates postherpetic neuralgia, 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 blistering or spreading rash needs medical evaluation to rule out an active shingles flare before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for postherpetic neuralgia — 8 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Blood and Yin.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Resolves Dampness.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang). Strengthens Essence.
BL-18	Nourishes Liver-Blood. Moves Liver-Qi. Benefits the sinews.
G.B.-34	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Benefits the sinews. Removes obstruction from the channel.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing or burning pain in the former shingles area; irritability; chest or rib-side distension; a dark, purplish complexion or lips. Worse with emotional stress, cold weather and pressure; better with warmth, gentle movement and stress reduction.

Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry, Choppy.

Treatment principle: Move stagnant Qi and Blood, clear residual Heat and toxins, and open the chest to restore channel circulation.

EX-B-2 (Huatuojiaji) L.I.-4 ↓ LR-3 ↓ SP-6 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Liver-Blood stasis — a purple or dark complexion and lips are shared discoloration markers.

2. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, lingering pain rather than sharp or burning; persistent fatigue and lack of energy; a pale or sallow complexion; dizziness or lightheadedness. Improves with rest, worsens after exertion and skipped meals.

Tongue: Pale, possibly thin, teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, weak.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and Blood to nourish the depleted nerves and tissue, rebuilding the foundation for healing.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ L.I.-4 ↑ L.I.-11 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. No deck on this site combines a generic Qi and Blood deficiency pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Aching or dull postherpetic pain that worsens with cold and damp weather; lower back and knee soreness/weakness; an aversion to cold with a preference for warmth; numbness or tingling in the limbs.

Tongue: Pale, thin, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, weak, often Slow, weak at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Dispel Cold-Dampness from the channels while strengthening the Liver and Kidneys to support the body's foundation and restore circulation.

Local, dispel Cold-Damp

EX-B-2 (Huatuojiaji) G.B.-34 ↓

Tonify Liver-Kidney

KI-3 ↑ BL-18 ↑

Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. This site's closest candidate, \"Kidney-Essence deficiency,\" is framed around bone development, hair and memory rather than a joint-specific Bi-syndrome picture, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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