Toxic Dysentery

How Chinese medicine differentiates toxic dysentery into the three patterns described for it, and the points for each. Supportive reading only. Distinct from this site's Dysentery and Chronic Dysentery 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. Toxic dysentery is a severe, rapidly progressing illness (high fever, severe cramping, bloody stools) that needs emergency medical care, including fluids and antibiotics as needed. Acupuncture is never a substitute for that care.

General Acupuncture Points

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

Point	Key action
ST-25	Regulates the Intestines. Regulates Stomach and Spleen. Moves Qi and invigorates Blood.
ST-37	Regulates the Stomach and Intestines and resolves retention of Food. Eliminates Damp-Heat. Subdues rebellious Qi.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat and cools Blood. Removes obstructions and Heat from the channel. Resolves Dampness.

The Three Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Toxic-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Sudden high fever (39°C or higher); severe abdominal cramping; bright purple or fresh blood in the stools; intense thirst for cold drinks; restlessness or mental confusion; marked tenesmus.

Tongue: Deep red with prickly papillae, dry yellow coat. Pulse: Rapid, forceful, slippery.

Treatment principle: Clears epidemic Toxic-Heat systemically, cools the Blood and stops dysentery.

DU-14 ↓ ST-25 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ ST-37 ↓

Note: Medical emergency — call for urgent care. no moxa. This site's decks have no standalone Toxic-Heat slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

2. Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Foul-smelling mucopurulent stools with blood and mucus; burning anal sensation; body heaviness; cramping with urgent straining; a feeling of incomplete evacuation.

Tongue: Red, thick yellow greasy coat, thickest at the centre and root. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clears intestinal Heat, dries Dampness and resolves the pus-and-blood obstruction.

ST-25 ↓ ST-37 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

Note: no moxa.

3. Heat in the Blood

Clinical manifestations: Bright purple or dark red blood in the stool; severe restlessness, mental confusion or convulsions; internal heat worse at night; intense thirst.

Tongue: Deep red with red spots and prickles, thin yellow dry coat. Pulse: Rapid, wiry, slippery, forceful.

Treatment principle: Cools the Blood deeply, stops bleeding and calms the Spirit.

SP-10 ↓ DU-14 ↓ HE-7 ⊥ LIV-3 ↓

Note: Medical emergency — signs of systemic toxicity need urgent care. no moxa. This site's decks have no standalone Heat-in-the-Blood slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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