Rheumatic Fever

How Chinese medicine differentiates the presentation of rheumatic fever into the four patterns described for it, and the points for each. Supportive reading only. Distinct from this site's Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout 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. Rheumatic fever is a medical diagnosis that needs antibiotic treatment and monitoring for heart complications, especially in children. Acupuncture is at most a supportive adjunct alongside that care, never a substitute for it.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for rheumatic fever — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Opens the Water passages.
G.B.-34	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Resolves Damp-Heat in Liver and Gall Bladder. Benefits the sinews.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Painful Obstruction due to Damp-Heat in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: Joints red, swollen, hot to the touch; fever, thirst, irritability; heavy aching in the limbs; worse with heat, humidity and rich foods; better with cold compresses and rest.

Tongue: Red, possibly swollen, yellow greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clears Heat, dries Dampness, cools the Blood and unblocks the channels.

L.I.-11 ↓ SP-9 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓

Note: no moxa. This site's decks have no Bi-syndrome slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

2. Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Aching pain worse in cold, damp weather; stiffness relieved by warmth; heaviness or numbness in the limbs; swelling without redness; aversion to cold or wind.

Tongue: Pale, slightly swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy coat. Pulse: Wiry and tight, or soggy and slow.

Treatment principle: Dispels Wind-Cold-Damp, warms the channels and promotes Qi and Blood flow.

G.B.-34 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: moxa is appropriate. This site's decks have no Bi-syndrome slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

3. Phlegm in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain; hard, firm swelling around the joints; subcutaneous nodules; purple or dark skin discoloration; stubborn numbness; stiffness with difficulty bending.

Tongue: Purple, stasis spots, white greasy coat, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy, or wiry and slippery.

Treatment principle: Transforms Phlegm, invigorates Blood, disperses Wind-Cold and unblocks the collaterals.

ST-40 ↓ SP-10 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓

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. Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Chronic dull joint pain and stiffness; lower-back and knee soreness and weakness; fatigue and lack of stamina; numbness or tingling; pale complexion; worse in cold, damp weather.

Tongue: Pale, thin, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine, weak, slow, especially weak at the rear position.

Treatment principle: Tonifies the Liver and Kidney, nourishes Blood and Essence, and gently expels lingering Wind-Damp-Cold.

BL-23 ↑ BL-18 ↑ KI-3 ↑ ST-36 ↑

Note: moxa is appropriate.

Related conditions

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