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Stiff Legs

How Chinese medicine differentiates stiff legs into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Weak Legs, Leg Pain and Joint Stiffness 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. New or progressive leg stiffness with weakness, spasticity, bladder or bowel changes, or after a fall needs neurological assessment.
General Acupuncture Points

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

PointKey action
G.B.-34Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Resolves Damp-Heat in Liver and Gall Bladder. Benefits the sinews.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness. Promotes the function of the Liver and the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Leg stiffness worse at night and at rest; lower-back and knee soreness; dry eyes; dizziness; tinnitus; heat in the palms and soles; dry mouth.
Tongue: Red, thin, cracked, little coat. Pulse: Fine, rapid, wiry.
Treatment principle: Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin.
KI-3 ↑ SP-6 ↑ G.B.-34 ⊥
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency with heat signs).

2. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Heavy, weak legs after standing or walking; pale complexion; fatigue; reluctance to speak; dizziness; poor appetite.
Tongue: Pale, thin, possibly tooth-marked. Pulse: Fine, weak and empty.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi and nourishes Blood.
ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ SP-10 ↑
Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Qi-and-Blood-deficiency slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.

3. Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Stiffness worse in cold, damp weather; heaviness and aching; improves with warmth and movement; aversion to cold; possible swelling without redness.
Tongue: Pale or swollen, white greasy coat. Pulse: Moderate or soggy, possibly tight.
Treatment principle: Expels Wind-Cold-Damp and warms the channels.
ST-36 ↑ G.B.-34 ↓ BL-40 ⊥ 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.

4. Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Heavy stiffness; heat and swelling sensation; sticky, foul-smelling stools or diarrhea; burning urination.
Tongue: Red, slightly swollen, thick yellow greasy coat, thickest at the root. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.
Treatment principle: Clears Heat and dries Dampness from the lower body.
SP-9 ↓ SP-6 ⊥ BL-40 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Damp-Heat-in-the-Bladder slide, its established Lower-Burner Damp-Heat convention.

5. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain; stiffness worse with pressure or inactivity; irritability and emotional tension.
Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood, moves Qi and relieves fixed pain.
SP-10 ↓ LIV-3 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓
Note: no moxa. No combined Qi-and-Blood-stagnation slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions
Weak Legs Leg Pain Joint Stiffness

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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.