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Swollen Gums

How Chinese medicine differentiates swollen gums — distinct from Bleeding Gums and Periodontal Disease already covered — the five 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. Swollen gums with fever, spreading facial swelling, or pus need urgent dental or medical evaluation before assuming it is a simple pattern.
General Acupuncture Points

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

PointKey action
ST-44Ying-Spring point, clears Stomach-Fire, alleviates gum pain.
L.I.-4Disperses Heat, stops pain in the face and mouth.
ST-6Local point, reduces swelling in the gums and cheeks.
G.B.-20Expels Wind, clears Heat from the head and face.
T.B.-5Releases the exterior, alleviates pain along the channels.
KI-3Tonifies Kidney-Yin and Yang, anchors floating Yang.
KI-6Nourishes Kidney-Yin, clears Empty-Heat, benefits the throat.
BL-23Tonifies Kidney-Yin, strengthens the lower back.
LR-3Subdues rising Liver-Yang, clears Liver-Fire.
LR-2Fire point, drains excess Liver-Fire quickly.
ST-36Tonifies Qi and Blood, strengthens Spleen and Stomach.
SP-6Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, nourishes Blood.
SP-10Invigorates Blood, directs nourishment to the gums, helps stop bleeding.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Stomach Fire (Stomach Heat) View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Intense red swollen gums that bleed easily, throbbing burning gum pain, foul breath and bitter taste, craving for cold drinks, constipation.
Tongue: Red body (especially centre) with thick dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, slippery, forceful, strong at right middle position.
Treatment principle: Clear Stomach-Heat, cool the Blood, directly reduce gum swelling and pain.
ST-44 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ ST-6 ↓
Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Stomach-Heat-(or-Phlegm-Heat) slide.

2. Wind-Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sudden onset of red swollen gums, pain worsens with heat or hot drinks, fever and sore throat, thirst for cold drinks, headache.
Tongue: Red tip and edges with thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating and rapid.
Treatment principle: Disperse the external Wind-Heat pathogen travelling along the Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
G.B.-20 ↓ T.B.-5 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓
Note: no moxa. Direct match with this site's own Invasion-of-Lungs-by-Wind-Heat slide.

3. Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull aching gum pain, loose teeth, worsens at night and with fatigue, night sweats and five-palm heat, lower back soreness, dry throat preferring small sips.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with little or no coating, possibly cracked. Pulse: Fine and rapid, weak at rear position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin, clear deficiency Fire, and stabilize loose teeth.
KI-3 ↑ KI-6 ↑ BL-23 ↑
Note: no moxa given the Empty-Heat. Direct match with this site's own Kidney-Yin-deficiency-Empty-Heat-blazing slide.

4. Liver-Fire Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning pain in the gums, bitter taste in the mouth, red irritated eyes, intense irritability and short temper, gum swelling worsens with stress, often one-sided sharp pain.
Tongue: Red body with redder sides, dry yellow coating, possibly red prickles. Pulse: Wiry and rapid, full and forceful, especially at left Guan.
Treatment principle: Drain excess Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder.
LR-3 ↓ LR-2 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓
Note: no moxa, all points reducing technique. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Fire-blazing slide.

5. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Pale slightly swollen gums that bleed easily without much redness, persistent fatigue and lack of energy, pale or sallow complexion and pale lips, dizziness, poor appetite.
Tongue: Pale body, may be thin or have teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, especially at right Guan.
Treatment principle: Tonify both Qi and Blood, strengthening the Spleen so it can nourish gum tissue.
ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ SP-10 ↑
Note: moxa applicable throughout. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions
Bleeding Gums Periodontal Disease

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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.