Rib Pain

How Chinese medicine differentiates rib-side (hypochondriac) pain — distinct from Chest Pain, Flank Pain and Costochondritis already covered — the four 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. Rib pain after trauma, with breathing difficulty, or with fever needs medical evaluation before assuming a simple pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

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

Point	Key action
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
LR-14	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi and harmonizes Liver and Stomach.
T.B.-6	Regulates Qi and benefits the chest and costal region. Removes obstructions from the channel.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood. Opens the chest and diaphragm.
G.B.-34	Resolves Liver-Qi stagnation. Resolves Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gall Bladder.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
BL-18	Nourishes Liver-Blood. Benefits the sinews.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang). Benefits Essence.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Liver-Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Distending, wandering pain that worsens with stress and anger, frequent sighing, irritability or mood swings, chest tightness.

Tongue: Normal or slightly dark body, red or slightly purple on the sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, taut like a guitar string.

Treatment principle: Course the Liver and resolve constraint, move Qi and alleviate pain.

LR-3 ↓ LR-14 ⊥ T.B.-6 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Liver-Qi-stagnation slide.

2. Liver-Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain in the ribs, worsens at night, dark purple tongue or purple spots.

Tongue: Dark purple body with purple stasis spots on the sides, distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood and dispel stasis, move Qi and alleviate pain.

BL-17 ↓ LR-14 ⊥ LR-3 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide via the well-established stasis-spot-tongue marker.

3. Liver and Gallbladder Damp-Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning, distending pain or fullness in the rib area, bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, aversion to greasy food, yellowing of the eyes or skin, irritability and restlessness.

Tongue: Red body, especially red sides, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, slippery, and rapid.

Treatment principle: Drain excess Fire from Liver and Gallbladder, clear Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.

LR-14 ⊥ G.B.-34 ↓ LR-3 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Damp-Heat-in-the-Gall-Bladder-and-Liver slide.

4. Liver-Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull burning rib pain, worse with fatigue and at night, dry eyes and dry mouth, night sweats and five-center heat, dizziness.

Tongue: Red, thin body with redder sides, dry surface, little or no coating. Pulse: Wiry, fine, and rapid.

Treatment principle: Nourish Liver and Kidney Yin, soothe the Liver and regulate Qi.

BL-18 ↑ KI-3 ↑ LR-14 ⊥ SP-6 ↑

Note: no moxa given the Yin deficiency. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Liver-Yin-deficiency slide.

Related conditions

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