Knee Pain: TCM Acupuncture Points & Herbal Relief Guide

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Knee Pain: TCM Acupuncture Points & Herbal Relief Guide

Updated: June 22, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Knee

Overview

Knee pain is one of the most common joint complaints, affecting people of all ages. In younger people, it’s often from injury or overuse. In older adults, it’s most commonly from osteoarthritis. The knee is the largest joint in the body and bears significant weight, making it vulnerable to wear and tear.

The good news: Most knee pain improves with conservative care. TCM offers effective, natural approaches for pain relief, improved function, and prevention.

What’s Actually Happening?

From a Western perspective:

Knee pain can arise from:

  • Patellofemoral stress — pain around the kneecap

  • Meniscal degeneration — wear and tear on the shock-absorbing menisci

  • Collateral ligament strain — from injury or overuse

  • Osteoarthritis — cartilage breakdown in the knee joint

From a TCM perspective:

The knee is called the “meeting point of the tendons.” It’s governed by:

  • Kidney — governs the bones

  • Liver — governs the tendons

  • Spleen — governs the muscles

Knee pain is often due to:

  • Kidney-Liver Deficiency — underlying weakness of bones and tendons

  • Wind-Cold-Damp Bi — external cold and damp invade the knee

  • Qi-Blood Stagnation — overuse or injury blocks blood flow

TCM Patterns

| TCM Pattern | Key Features | Mechanism | Treatment Principle |

| :— | :— | :— | :— |

| Kidney-Liver Deficiency | Chronic knee ache; worse with overwork; also low back weakness | Kidneys and Liver fail to nourish the knee | Tonify Kidney-Liver, strengthen tendons and bones |

| Wind-Cold-Damp Bi | Stiff, heavy knee; worse in cold/rainy weather; better with warmth | External cold-damp invades the knee | Dispel cold-damp, warm the meridians |

| Qi-Blood Stagnation | Sharp, fixed pain; from overuse or injury | Blood flow to the knee is blocked | Invigorate blood, promote Qi flow |

Acupuncture Points for Knee Pain

| Point | Location | Mechanism |

| :— | :— | :— |

| EX-LE4 Xiyan | In the two hollows beside the patella (kneecap) | Local points that reduce knee pain and swelling |

| GB34 Yanglingquan | In the depression just below the head of the fibula | The “master point” for tendons; treats knee pain and stiffness |

| ST36 Zusanli | 3 cun below the patella, one finger-width lateral to the tibial crest | Strengthens the legs; tonifies Qi and blood |

Self-care move: Press the hollows beside your kneecap gently while slowly extending and flexing your knee. Do this for 2 minutes, 3 times daily.

The Herbal Side: Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang

Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is the classic formula for knee and lower back pain.

Key ingredients:

| Herb | Action |

| :— | :— |

| Du Huo | Disperses Wind-Damp-Cold; targets the lower body |

| Sang Ji Sheng | Tonifies Liver-Kidney; strengthens bones and tendons |

| Niu Xi | Strengthens the knee; guides blood downward |

| Xu Duan | Heals injured tendons and bones |

| Du Zhong | Strengthens the lower back and knees |

Dosage: Typically 5-9g as decoction twice daily, or 4-6g as granules.

Simple Self-Care That Works

1. Quadriceps Strengthening

  • Straight leg raise: Lie on your back, tighten your quadriceps, lift your leg 6-12 inches, hold 5 seconds, slowly lower.

  • Wall sit: Lean against a wall with knees bent at a 45-degree angle.

2. Gentle Stretching

  • Hamstring stretch: Sit, extend one leg, reach forward.

  • Quad stretch: Stand, pull foot toward buttocks.

3. Weight Management

Every extra pound of body weight adds approximately 4 pounds of stress to the knee.

4. Low-Impact Exercise

Swimming, cycling, or walking on flat ground reduces knee stress.

5. Heat and Ice

  • Heat: Before exercise to improve circulation

  • Ice: After exercise to reduce inflammation

6. Supportive Footwear

Wear shoes with good support. Orthotics can help if you have flat feet.

When to See a Professional

Seek medical evaluation if:

  • Pain persists despite self-care

  • You have significant swelling, redness, or warmth

  • You can’t put weight on the knee

  • Pain is accompanied by fever

References

  1. Manheimer, E., et al. (2018). Acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. BMJ, 361, k1616.

  2. Vickers, A. J., et al. (2012). Acupuncture for chronic pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(19), 1444-1453.

  3. Berman, B. M., et al. (2001). Acupuncture for knee pain. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 44(9), 2088-2096.

  4. Manyanga, T., et al. (2014). TCM for knee osteoarthritis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14, 378.

  5. WHO. (2023). Musculoskeletal pain. World Health Organization.

Explore More

  • Find your solution at MendGod.com – Personalized herbal protocols and acupressure tools for knee pain relief.

  • Deepen your knowledge at TcmCIO.com – Full research papers and clinical case studies on TCM joint health.