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Swollen Lymph Nodes

How Chinese medicine differentiates swollen lymph nodes, 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. A node that is hard, fixed, painless and growing, or swelling with unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or lasting more than a few weeks, needs medical evaluation to rule out something more serious before assuming it is a simple pattern.
General Acupuncture Points

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

PointKey action
LR-3Moves stagnant Liver Qi and eases emotional tension.
ST-40Master point for Phlegm, transforms and clears Phlegm from the channels.
SP-9Resolves Dampness and supports Spleen function to curb Phlegm production.
L.I.-4Promotes free flow of Qi throughout the body.
S.I.-17Local point on the neck to disperse stagnation and soften nodes.
BL-23Tonifies Kidney Yin to address root deficiency.
KI-3Source point of the Kidney, nourishes Yin and clears deficiency heat.
SP-6Nourishes Yin and Blood, harmonizes Spleen and Kidney.
KI-6Nourishes Kidney Yin and benefits the throat and neck area.
L.I.-11Master point to clear Heat and cool Blood.
DU-14Clears Heat and resolves Toxin.
ST-36Strengthens Qi and Blood, supports healing.
REN-6Boosts original Qi to energize the whole body.
The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Qi-Phlegm

Clinical manifestations: Firm, movable nodes resembling a string of pearls; absence of redness, heat, or pain; chest/rib-side stuffiness and sighing; sensation of a lump in the throat; worse with emotional stress and greasy foods.
Tongue: Normal pink-red body, possibly slightly swollen, white greasy or slippery coating. Pulse: Wiry and slippery, especially at left middle.
Treatment principle: Harmonize Liver and Spleen to address Qi stagnation and Phlegm formation.
LR-3 ↓ ST-40 ↓ SP-9 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ S.I.-17 ↓
Note: no moxa. No deck on this site combines Liver-Qi stagnation with Phlegm into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

2. Empty-Heat caused by Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Nodes enlarge with dusky red skin darkening; afternoon low-grade fever; night sweats; dry mouth/throat with desire to sip water; restlessness and difficulty sleeping; malar flush.
Tongue: Red, thin, and dry body with cracks, little or no coating. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin fluids and clear deficiency heat.
BL-23 ↑ KI-3 ↑ SP-6 ↑ KI-6 ↑
Note: no moxa. Direct match, reusing the well-established Kidney-Yin/Empty-Heat slide.

3. Toxic-Heat Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Matted, fused nodes feeling warm to touch; redness and heat over swelling; sharp, severe pain; high fever or persistent intense body heat; pus formation or spontaneous discharge; intense thirst for cold drinks.
Tongue: Deep red or crimson body with prickly papillae and thick, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid and forceful-full, or overflowing.
Treatment principle: Clear intense Toxic-Heat and resolve toxin, drain fire and reduce inflammation.
L.I.-11 ↓ DU-14 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓
Note: no moxa. No standalone Toxic-Heat slide exists on this site, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Persistent, dull, non-tender swollen nodes; profound fatigue and weakness; pale or sallow complexion; poor appetite and weight loss; dizziness or heart palpitations.
Tongue: Pale body, may be thin or have teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak.
Treatment principle: Rebuild the body's fundamental Qi and Blood reserves.
ST-36 ↑ REN-6 ↑ SP-6 ↑
Note: moxa applicable throughout. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.
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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.