Testicular Pain (Orchialgia)

How Chinese medicine differentiates testicular pain (orchialgia), the three 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. Sudden, severe testicular pain needs emergency medical evaluation to rule out testicular torsion before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for testicular pain — 8 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, invigorates Blood.
LR-6	Removes obstructions from the Liver channel — Xi-Cleft point for acute channel pain.
Ren-4	Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys and Original Qi.
LR-2	Drains Liver-Fire, cools Blood, resolves Damp-Heat in the genitourinary system.
Ren-3	Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner. Promotes the Bladder function of Qi transformation.
SP-9	Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, benefits the Lower Burner.
L.I.-4	Removes obstructions from the channel, stops pain, harmonizes ascending and descending Qi.
Ren-6	Regulates Qi in the Lower Burner.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cold, cramping pain that pulls toward the groin; scrotal contraction and testicular retraction; pain worse with cold exposure, better with warmth; cold limbs and sensitivity to cold; pain radiating to the lower abdomen or inner thigh.

Tongue: Pale body, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, wiry, slow or tight.

Treatment principle: Warm the Liver and Kidneys, move Qi and alleviate pain, dispel Cold from the Liver channel.

Warm and disperse the channel

LR-3 ↓ LR-6 ↓

Warm the root

Ren-4 ↑

Note: moxa applicable throughout. Direct match with Stagnation of Cold in the Liver channel — testicular retraction, scrotal contraction and pain referring to the groin are named symptoms there.

2. Damp-Heat in the Liver Channel View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Burning or heavy testicular pain; swollen, red scrotum; scrotal dampness or itching; bitter taste in the mouth; dark, scanty urine; acute inflammatory presentation.

Tongue: Red body, yellow greasy coating (thicker at centre and root). Pulse: Wiry, slippery, rapid.

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

LR-3 ↓ LR-2 ↓ Ren-3 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Damp-Heat in the Liver — the deck slide explicitly names \"pain, redness and swelling of the scrotum\" and \"burning on urination\" among its listed symptoms.

3. Small Intestine Qi Pain View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Twisting or cramping pain that shifts location; dragging groin sensation; relief after passing gas; excessive gas and abdominal bloating; worse with emotional stress; abdominal pressure discomfort.

Tongue: Normal body, thin white coat. Pulse: Deep and wiry, especially at the left middle (Liver) position.

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

LR-3 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ Ren-6 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Small Intestine-Qi pain — the deck slide lists \"pain in the testis\" by name among its manifestations.

Related conditions

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