Lumbar Disc Herniation - Damp-Heat Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Lumbar Disc Herniation · Damp-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Lower Back

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat is a less common but important pattern in lumbar disc herniation, characterized by burning pain, swelling, redness, and aggravation with heat. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the lumbar region, causing inflammatory radiculopathy and nerve root edema.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Burning pain in the lower back and leg, swelling, redness |

| Associated Symptoms | Fever, thirst, dark urine, irritability |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Damp-Heat accumulating in the lumbar region |

| Etiology | Damp-Heat constitution, infection, inflammatory response |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| BL23 Shenshu | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to L2 | Regulates Kidney Qi, clears Heat and drains Dampness |

| SP9 Yinlingquan | Below the medial condyle of the tibia | Strengthens Spleen and transforms Dampness, promotes diuresis and drains Dampness |

| BL40 Weizhong | Midpoint of the popliteal crease (behind the knee) | Relaxes sinews and activates collaterals, benefits the lower back and knees |

| Ashi points | Tender spots around the lumbar area and affected nerve distribution | Local clearing of Heat and unblocking collaterals for pain relief |

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, reducing method; Weizhong may be pricked to bleed to enhance Heat clearing and Dampness draining.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Si Miao Wan (四妙丸)

Composition:

Atractylodes (Cang Zhu), Phellodendron (Huang Bai), Achyranthes (Niu Xi), Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren)

Action: Clears Damp-Heat, reduces inflammation, promotes diuresis, and relieves pain.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe burning pain | Add Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao to clear Heat and detoxify |

| Swelling | Add Pu Gong Ying, Zi Hua Di Ding to detoxify and reduce swelling |

| Fever and thirst | Add Shi Gao, Zhi Mu to clear Heat and generate fluids |

Western Mechanism Reference

Inflammatory radiculopathy with elevated inflammatory cytokines, nerve root edema, and local inflammation. Damp-Heat corresponds to lumbar disc herniation with a significant inflammatory component, often seen in cases with infection or immune-mediated inflammation.

References

  1. Textbook Standard.

  2. WHO. (2023). Low back pain and disc disorders. World Health Organization.

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