Arthritis – TCM
1. Migratory; Caused by wind. Symptoms include migratory pain in the limbs, joints, and muscles, especially wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. Reduced range of motion in joints. Fever. Aversion to cold. Thin, greasy tongue and wiry, superficial pulse.
2. Painful; Caused by cold. Severe pain in limbs and joints, described as pricking and stabbing. Less pain with warmth, more with cold. Better during the day and worse at night. Reduced mobility of joints. Painful areas are cold. Thin, white tongue, wiry, tense pulse.
3. Fixed; Caused by dampness. Pain in the same location. Strong pain in limbs, joints, and muscles. Worsens with high humidity (rain). White, greasy tongue coating. Slow, weak pulse.
4. Febrile; Caused by heat (wind, cold, dampness turning into heat).
5. Painful limbs and joints. Burning sensation, redness, severe upon touch. Reduced range of motion in one or more joints. May include fever, thirst, and restlessness. Desires cold drinks, averse to heat. Yellow tongue, rapid pulse.
6. Persistent; Poor circulation of Qi and blood. Blood stasis. Long-lasting, recurring attacks in the same areas. Some affected areas may have black spots/marks. Severe localized pain. Reduced range of motion. Painful and swollen joints. Thirst, little urine, and sensation of cold in the joints. Worse in cold, better in warmth. Dark tongue with spots. Thin, hesitant pulse.
Treatment; Strengthen anti-pathogenic Qi. Eliminate wind and cold from the meridians and resolve dampness by using local points. Ashi and distal points, which are also described below.
The points are initially described as local points on the painful areas.
Shoulder; Jianju co.15 jinaliao sj.14 naoshu si.10 hegu co.4
Elbow; Quichi co.11 tianjing sj.10 chize lu.5 waiguan sj.5
Wrist; Yanxi co.5 yangchi sj.4 waigan sj.5 wangu si.4
Hip; Huantiao gb.30 juliao gb.29 xuanzhong gb.39
Thigh; Zhibian bl.54 chengfu bl.36 yinmen bl.37 kunlun bl.60
Knee; Lianqiu st.34 xu hai sp.10 xwiyuan ex.32 (ex-le 7)
Yanglingquan gb.31 yinlingquan sj.9
Ankle; Jiexi st.41 shangqiu sp.5 kunlun bl.60 taixi ki.3
Back and lower back; shenzhu du.12 yaoyanggund du.3 dazhui du.14
Special points;
- Fengshi gb.20 Xuehai sp.10 geshu bl.17
- Guanyuan ren4 shenshu bl.23
- Pishu bl.20 zusanli st.36 yanglingquan gb.34
- Dazhui du.14 quchi co.11 weizhong bl.40
- Pishu bl.20 ganshu bl.18 shenshu bl.25 geshu bl.17 dashu bl.11
Explanation;
Local points and distal points are used together to strengthen Qi and blood circulation, eliminate wind and cold, remove dampness, strengthen anti-pathogenic Qi, and harmonize the nourishing and defensive Qi, so that the organism can be relieved, as the body does not build a shield against pathogenic factors.
Gb.20, sp.10, bl.17 should eliminate wind, activate blood circulation.
Ren 4 and bl.23 should control kidney yang and eliminate cold.
St.36, bl.20 and sp.9 should strengthen spleen, stomach and remove dampness.
Du.14, co.11, and bl.40 should eliminate wind, dispel heat and activate blood circulation.
Bl.11, 17, 18, 20, 23 strengthen defensive Qi, remove pathogenic factors, activate blood, remove dampness, stop pain.
Acupuncture for 20-30 minutes, manipulate 2-3 times. Very effective with moxa for 1, 2, 5.
