GOUT

Clinical Manifestations
  • Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It's characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in the joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe.
    An attack of gout can occur suddenly, often waking you up in the middle of the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the sheet on it may seem intolerable.
    Gout symptoms may come and go, but there are ways to manage symptoms and prevent flares.
  • The signs and symptoms of gout: almost always occur suddenly, and often at night. They include:
  • Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the large joint of your big toe, but it can occur in any joint. Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins.
  • Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
  • Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red.
  • Limited range of motion. As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally.
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Mild or severe chills
  • Fever which may be persistent
  • Uneasiness from fever
  • Spontaneous perspiration
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches and pain
  • Stiff neck and shoulders
  • Nausea
  • Nasal irritation
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Tendency to snore
  • Itchy throat
  • T:  Normal
  • C:  Thin and white
  • P:  Superficial and slow or Moderate and maybe weak
Treatment Principle
  • Create sweat to relieve the Exterior and expel Wind
  • Harmonize Ying and Wei to protect digestion and nourish Wei Qi
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Fever and chills without sweat
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Stiff neck and back
  • Abdominal pain and Cold
  • Diarrhea with borborygmus
  • A sensation of fullness in the chest and abdomen
  • May be Cold in the lower body with Heat in the upper body
  • Aching at the waist
  • Anhidrosis
  • Loose stools
  • Sciatica
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal distention
  • Borborygmus
  • An aversion to food
  • Vomiting
  • Women:
    Cold-type epigastric and abdominal pain
  • Menstrual irregularity
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • T: Normal
  • C: White and greasy
  • P: Deep and wiry or Superficial and slow
Treatment Principle
  • Release the Exterior
  • Warm the Interior
  • Smooth the flow of Qi
  • Transform Phlegm
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Reduce Accumulations
  • Regulate Qi and Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Wandering joint pain, especially the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles
  • Chills and fever
  • Atrophy above and below the knees
  • Limited movement
  • Paralysis of knees
  • One or both knees swollen, enlarged and painful
  • Stiffness of knees
  • Legs so weak and sore after dysentery that it is difficult to walk
  • Generalized pain and numbness in the legs
  • Hemiplegia
  • Dizziness
  • Neuralgia
  • Paralysis, stiffness, swelling and pain of feet
  • Atrophy of the leg muscles
  • Chest oppression
  • Lumbago
  • Tinnitus
  • T: Pink or Pale and swollen or Red
  • C: Thin white or Greasy white
  • P: Superficial and tense or tight or Deep and thin or Deep and weak or Deep, slow and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Dispel Wind
  • Activate Qi and Blood
  • Tonify Qi and Blood
  • Eliminate Cold-Dampness
  • Tonifies Yang
  • Strengthens the muscles, tendons and bones
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Joint pain, especially in the wrist, ankle, knee and elbow
  • Muscle pain
  • There may be numbness and heaviness in the limbs
  • The pain is worse with Cold and better with warmth
  • The pain is aggravated by Wind
  • The pain aggravated by Dampness
  • The pain is stabbing
  • Muscle weakness
  • Difficult movement
  • Numbness of the muscles and skin
  • Hemiplegia, especially of the upper limbs
  • The pain alleviated by movement
  • Slight muscle edema
  • Heaviness of the joints
  • Cold joints
  • Aversion to Cold
  • The pain worse at night
  • Local inflammation
  • Migratory pain
  • Deviation of the eyes and mouth
  • Spasm of the limbs
  • T: Slightly purple or purple spots
  • C: Thick and white
  • P: Slippery or Slightly superficial or slightly rough or Slow and Soft or Wiry and tight or Floating and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Remove Wind-Dampness
  • Eliminate Painful Obstruction
  • Circulate Qi and Blood
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Painful joint flare ups at night
  • Joints are red, hot, swollen and extremely painful =Damp-Heat caused by Excess Dampness in diet or yang Deficiency caused by over exertion, recurrent infections, trauma or surgeries
  • Predominant location is in the Spleen channel at level of big toe (Damp-Heat or Phlegm-Heat) with frequent relapses at end of spring and fall
  • “Tophi” (chalk stone deposits) form on joints =Phlegm-Cold (governed by the lungs) Uremic Arthropathies= Spleen dysfunction (governs the circulation of fluids in the joints)
  • Uremic Nephropathies= Kidney dysfunction
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Joint pain, especially in the wrist, ankle, knee and elbow
  • Muscle pain
  • There may be numbness and heaviness in the limbs
  • The pain is worse with Cold and better with warmth
  • The pain is aggravated by Wind
  • The pain aggravated by Dampness
  • The pain is stabbing
  • Muscle weakness
  • Difficult movement
  • Numbness of the muscles and skin
  • Hemiplegia, especially of the upper limbs
  • The pain alleviated by movement
  • Slight muscle edema
  • Heaviness of the joints
  • Cold joints
  • Aversion to Cold
  • The pain worse at night
  • Local inflammation
  • Migratory pain
  • Deviation of the eyes and mouth
  • Spasm of the limbs
  • T: Slightly purple or purple spots
  • C: Thick and white
  • P: Slippery or Slightly superficial or slightly rough or Slow and Soft or Wiry and tight or Floating and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Remove Wind-Dampness
  • Disperse Cold
  • Eliminate Painful Obstruction
  • Circulate Qi and Blood
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
  • Juan Bi Tang
  • For pain in the palms of the hands and heel pain: Juan Bi Tang Er Hao  modified
  • Chinese Patent Medicines:
    Feng Shi Pian
    Jing Fang Bai Du Pian

    Tian Ma Fu Qu Feng Bu Pian
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Migrating pain in the joints especially the :
    Shoulders
    Elbows
    Knees
    Wrists
    Fingers
    Upper back and neck
  • Multiple joints
  • Pain quality changes
  • May move from soreness to numbness to aching
  • Sensitivity varies
  • Pain often appears abruptly, acutely or paroxysmal and then disappears
  • Limited range of motion
  • Chills and fever
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Symptoms are worse in windy weather
  • Sore throat
  • General body aches
  • Maybe perspiration
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thin and white or Sticky and yellow
  • P: Superficial and moderate
Treatment Principle
  • Eliminate Wind
  • Warm Cold
  • Expel Damp
  • Clear the Channels
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Numbness and heaviness of the extremities
  • Soreness and fixed pain of joints
  • Stiffness or numbness of the muscles or skin
  • Pain worse on cloudy or rainy days
  • Maybe peripheral or systemic edema
  • Pain is alleviated by pressure and warmth
  • Pain lingers and is recalcitrant to treatment
  • Worse during cloudy or wet weather
  • Limited movement
  • Edema
  • Maybe stifling sensation in chest
  • Maybe anorexia or indigestion
  • Maybe abdominal distention
  • Maybe loose or semi-liquid stools
  • T: Pink or Pale
  • C: Greasy and white
  • P: Slow, moderate and soft
Treatment Principle
  • Expel Damp
  • Clear the channels
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Excruciating sharp, stabbing joint pain
  • Pain alleviated by warmth and aggravated by Cold
  • Pain with fixed location
  • Few joints are involved
  • The joints cannot be flexed or extended
  • No local redness or Heat
  • Painful area often feels cold to the touch
  • Pain worse at night and better during the day
  • Pain mostly affects low back and lower extremities
  • Pain intense but short lived
  • Pain changes over days or weeks
  • Ankylosis (stiffness) of joint
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Maybe chills with a slight fever
  • Anhidrosis
  • Frequent nocturnal urination
  • T: Pink or Pale
  • C: Thin and white (thicker than for Wind-Bi)
  • P: Superficial and tight or Wiry and tight - maybe slow
Treatment Principle
  • Warm the channels
  • Activate Qi and Blood.
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Attacks of severe acute joint pain which is fixed in location, worse with Cold and better with warmth
  • Aversion to Wind, Cold and Dampness
  • Stiff and painful muscles and joints
  • Limited movement
  • Pain aggravated by Wind
  • Sensitive to climatic changes
  • Numbness of muscles
  • Pain aggravated by Dampness
  • Cold joints
  • Possible deformation and hardening of the joint with restricted movement
  • Maybe joint swelling without redness or Heat
  • Pain worse at night
  • Low back pain or soreness
  • Lumbago
  • Fatigue
  • Heaviness of the body
  • Heaviness of the muscles
  • Preference for warmth
  • Weak joints
  • Palpitations
  • Pale face
  • Shortness of breath
  • Preference for dry weather
  • T: Pale or Purplish
  • C: Thin, white and greasy
  • P: Thready and weak or Thready and slippery or Deep, slippery and wiry or Soft, moderate and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Dispel Wind-Cold-Damp
  • Tonify Qi
  • Warm the channels
  • Strengthen the tendons
  • Nourish and Invigorate the Blood
  • Break up Blood Stasis
  • Eliminate Damp
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Painful joints
  • Heavy and painful sensations at fixed locations in lower back and extremities with weakness and stiffness or hypertonicity and immobility
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Attraction to warmth
  • Palpitations
  • Pain in the midline and back during pregnancy
  • Pain worse at night
  • General coldness
  • Sallow complexion
  • Wandering pain
  • Pale complexion
  • Shortness of breath
  • May be paresthesia and numbness
  • Cold pain in the low back and knees
  • Limited movement
  • Soreness, weakness and numbness of the joints
  • Tinnitus
  • Muscle spasms
  • Dizziness
  • T: Pale
  • C: Thin and white or White and moist
  • P: Thin, weak and slow or Deep, thready and weak or slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Disperse Wind-Dampness
  • Scatter Cold
  • Stop Bi pain
  • Tonify the Kidneys and Liver
  • Tonify Qi
  • Nourish the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points

Clinical Manifestations
  • High fever accompanied by severe chills and shivering
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Pain worse at night
  • Difficult movement
  • Local inflammation
  • Migratory pain
  • Soreness and pain of the extremities
  • Nasal congestion with sonorous breathing
  • Anhidrosis
  • Pain and stiffness of the head and neck
  • Focal distention and fullness of the chest and diaphragm
  • A productive cough
  • May have numbness and heaviness in the limbs
  • Body aches
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Cough with sputum
  • Stuffy nose
  • Joint pain
  • Pain worse with Cold and better with warmth
  • Pain aggravated by Wind
  • Pain aggravated by Dampness
  • Pain is stabbing
  • Muscle weakness
  • Pain alleviated by movement
  • Slight muscle edema
  • Heaviness of the joints
  • Cold joints
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • T: Pale or Slightly purple or Purple spots
  • C: White or thin, white, greasy
  • P: Slippery or Slightly superficial or Superficial and soft or Slightly rough or Slow and Soft or Wiry and tight or Superficial and rapid that is forceless under pressure
Treatment Principle
  • Release the Exterior
  • Augment Qi
  • Remove Wind-Cold-Damp
  • Eliminate Painful Obstruction
  • Circulate Qi and Blood
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A generalized sensation of heaviness
  • Neck, shoulder, elbow and upper back stiffness
  • Numbness of the extremities
  • Difficulty moving
  • Wandering joint pain, especially in the neck, shoulder, upper back and elbow
  • Upper back spasms
  • Immobility of the joints
  • Wandering joint pain
  • T: Normal
  • C: White
  • P: Moderate or Floating and slow or Slippery or Slow or Superficial and wiry or tight
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify Qi
  • Nourish Blood
  • Dispel Wind
  • Eliminate Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • A constant but not severe pain in one or more toes
  • Pain worse when walking
  • Rigidity of the toe in the morning
  • Hyperosteogeny (excessive bone growth)
  • Muscular atrophy
  • Low back and knee pain and weakness
  • Fatigue
  • T: Pale
  • C: thin and white
  • P: Thready and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Replenish Qi and Blood
  • Strengthen the Liver and Kidneys
  • Dispel Wind, Cold and Damp
  • Unblock the channels and collaterals
Herb Formulas
  • Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang   
  • Chinese Patent Medicines:
    Hai Ma Bu Shen Pian
    Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan

    Kang Gu Zheng Sheng Pian
Points
  • Bafeng, GB-34, GB-39, KI-3, LIV-3, SJ-6, ST-36
    With swollen toes and feet: + SP-9
    With swelling and possible deformity of the toes due to Qi and Blood Stagnation: + SP-10
    With severe aversion to Cold and a cold sensation in the joints: + moxa the toes
    With restlessness and insomnia: + HT-3, PC-6
Clinical Manifestations
  • Generalized body aches and pains
  • Irritability
  • Heavy sensation in the shoulder and back
  • Discomfort or a constricted sensation in the area of the chest and diaphragm
  • Multiple sores, carbuncles furuncles or abscesses
  • Redness
  • Itching
  • Persistent swelling
  • Chest pain
  • Fever
  • Thirst
  • Aching and painful extremities
  • Aching and painful joints
  • Eczema in the genital area
  • Unbearable swelling and pain of the lower extremities
  • Shoulder stiffness
  • T: Normal
  • C: Greasy and slightly yellow
  • P: Wiry and rapid or Soft and moderate or Soft, superficial and slow or Slippery and rapid or Deep and tight
Treatment Principle
  • Resolve Dampness
  • Clear Heat
  • Disperse Wind
  • Stop pain
  • Activate the Blood
  • Tonify Qi and Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Severe, acute joint aching and pain
  • The pain is in a fixed location
  • The pain is accompanied by redness, swelling and Heat
  • Irritability
  • Heavy sensation in the shoulder and back
  • Discomfort or a constricted sensation in the area of the chest and diaphragm
  • Multiple sores, carbuncles furuncles or abscesses
  • Itching
  • Persistent swelling
  • Chest pain
  • Fever
  • Thirst
  • Aching and painful extremities
  • Aching and painful joints
  • Eczema in the genital area
  • Unbearable swelling and pain of the lower extremities
  • Shoulder stiffness
  • Constipation
  • Reddish, yellow urine
  • T: Red
  • C: Greasy and yellow
  • P: Slippery, wiry and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Resolve Dampness
  • Clear Heat
  • Disperse Wind
  • Stop pain
  • Activate the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Protracted, incessant cough
  • Expectoration of copious, clear, watery or white Phlegm
  • Short, weak, breathing
  • Asthma
  • Spontaneous sweating
  • Weak voice
  • Reluctance to speak
  • A general air of sadness or melancholy
  • A waxy, pale complexion
  • Rounded or hunched shoulders
  • Four limbs tired
  • Anorexia
  • General lassitude
  • Distention and pain of the epigastrium and abdomen
  • Loose stools
  • Severe cases:
    Frightens easily
  • T: Pale with a thin crack
  • C: White or White and greasy
  • P: Thready and weak or Floating and weak
Treatment Principle
  • Reinforce the Spleen
  • Benefit the Lungs
  • Descend Lung Qi
  • Disperse accumulation
Herb Formulas
  • Wu Ji San
  • Chinese Patent Medicines:
    Su Zi Jiang Qi Wan
    Jiu Fei Su He Wan
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Continuous cramping pain in the abdomen
  • Pain is not severe
  • Pain is relieved by pressure
  • Edema of the feet
  • Urinary difficulty
  • Slight edema (primarily of the lower limbs)
  • Symptoms generally occur during pregnancy
  • Pale face
  • Fatigue
  • Heaviness of head
  • Lassitude
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Lumbago
  • Edema
  • Abdominal pain with edema during pregnancy due to Blood Deficiency and abnormal water circulation
  • Oliguria
  • Palpitations
  • Cold feet
  • Extreme coldness of the hands and feet
  • Vertigo
  • Weakness and numbness of lower back and legs during pregnancy or postpartum
  • Mal position of the fetus
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Right upper quadrant pain
  • Hepatomegaly
  • Anemia
  • Lack of energy
  • Sore back
  • Thirst with no desire to drink
  • T: Pale or pink maybe petechiae on margin
  • C: Thin or Greasy white
  • P: Deep and weak or Soft, floating, small and slow or Wiry and small or Wiry and rough
Treatment Principle
  • Strengthen the Spleen and Kidneys
  • Resolve Dampness
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Palpitations
  • Night sweats
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Dry throat and mouth no thirst
  • Fidgeting
  • Insomnia
  • Insomnia due to stress
  • Excessive dreams
  • Lack of energy
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Weak abdomen
  • Restlessness
  • Sleepiness
  • Light-headedness
  • Impatience
  • T: Pale or Red and dry
  • P: Wiry and rapid or Thready and rapid or Thready and weak or Thready and tight
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish Liver Blood
  • Calm the Shen
  • Clears Heat in Liver
  • Eliminate irritability
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Enduring joint pain
  • Symptoms worsen after exertion
  • Lack of joint flexibility
  • Facial complexion pale and sallow
  • Both cheeks slightly red
  • Dizziness
  • Dry eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Spots before the eyes
  • Numbness of limbs
  • Flaccid paralysis (Wei syndrome), weakness
  • Tinnitus
  • Deafness
  • Forgetfulness
  • Low back and knees sore and painful
  • Throat dry and painful
  • Five sole Heat
  • Low-grade fever
  • Night sweats
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Stools difficult to pass
  • Constipation
  • Men:
    Spermatorrhea
  • Women:
    Irregular menses or
    Scanty menses or
    Amenorrhea
    Vaginal discharge
  • T: Red
  • C: None
  • P: Thready and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Nourish and Reinforce the Liver and Kidneys
  • Strengthen and reinforce sinews and bones
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Painful joint flare ups at night
  • Joints are red, hot, swollen and extremely painful =Damp-Heat caused by Excess Dampness in diet or yang Deficiency caused by over exertion, recurrent infections, trauma or surgeries
  • Predominant location is in the Spleen channel at level of big toe (Damp-Heat or Phlegm-Heat) with frequent relapses at end of spring and fall
  • “Tophi” (chalk stone deposits) form on joints = Phlegm-Cold (governed by the lungs) Uremic Arthropathies = Spleen dysfunction (governs the circulation of fluids in the joints)
  • Uremic Nephropathies = Kidney dysfunction
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Palmar pain with a distending Cold sensation
  • Pain worse with emotional upset or exposure to Cold
  • Pain worse during menstruation
  • Pale skin on the hand
  • Fatigue
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Poor appetite
  • A dull feeling in the Stomach
  • Irritability
  • T: Pale
  • C: White
  • P: Deep and wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Regulate Liver Qi
  • Warm the Liver channel
  • Dispel Cold
Herb Formulas
Points

Clinical Manifestations
  • Pain that is severe, fixed and stabbing or
  • Pains that move around
  • Distention
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Pan is worse with pressure
  • Dark complexion
  • Fixed, palpable masses
  • Bleeding with clots
  • Purple lips
  • Purple nails
  • Dry skin
  • Blue, dark or purplish discoloration of skin in small or large areas,
  • Varicose and spider veins
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Tendency to hemorrhage dark blood or clots
  • T: Purple, possible purple or red spots
    Red purple if there is Heat
    Blue purple if there is Cold
  • C: White
  • P: Choppy or Wiry and choppy
  • Note: This pattern often accompanies and complicates other patterns.
Treatment Principle
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Break up Stagnation
  • Unblock the channels
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Joint pain with a dull sensation
  • Symptoms worse with fatigue and exertion and alleviated with rest
  • A slight, diffused tenderness on the heel
  • Lower back pain
  • Fatigue
  • Lassitude
  • Loose stools
  • Poor appetite
  • Dizziness
  • Pale face
  • Weak voice
  • Shortness of breath
  • Reluctance to speak
  • Sweating with little or no exertion
  • Palpitations
  • Insomnia
  • Dry skin
  • Dry hair
  • Poor memory
  • Paleness
  • Scanty periods
  • Nycturia
  • T: Pale or Pale, thin and dry
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Weak or Thin and choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify Qi
  • Nourish the Blood
  • Nourish the muscles
  • Alleviate pain
Herb Formulas
  • Ba Zhen Tang  modified
  • Chinese Patent Medicines: Shi Quan Da Bu Wan
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Weakness of the knees
  • Soreness of the lower back
  • Lumbago
  • Atrophy of the leg muscles
  • Lower back weakness
  • Knee pain
  • Difficulty walking
  • Emaciation
  • Impotence
  • Poor memory
  • Dizziness
  • Night sweats
  • Five-sole Heat
  • Aggravation of the pain by Damp weather
  • Pale complexion
  • Profuse urination at night
  • Tinnitus
  • Hair loss
  • Sensation of warmth
  • Thirst
  • Dry skin
  • T: Red or Pale and flabby with teethmarks
  • C: Little or Thin and white
  • P: Thready and weak, especially in the Kidney positions
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify the Liver and Kidneys
  • Strengthen the tendons and bones
  • Eliminate Damp-Heat
  • Tonify Kidney Jing
  • Relieve rheumatic pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Distension and pain before or during menses
  • Burning abdominal pain which precedes or follows the menstrual flow with guarding
  • Soreness and distention of the lower back
  • Pressure makes the pain worse
  • There may be constant lower abdominal pain that worsens with menstruation
  • Hot sensations
  • A feeling of Heat in the abdomen
  • Aversion to Heat
  • Yellow smelly vaginal discharge between periods
  • Dark-red or purple thick Blood with clots
  • Maybe heavy bleeding
  • Maybe dark, scanty, concentrated urine
  • May be a mild fever
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow and greasy
  • P: Wiry and rapid or slippery and rapid or soft and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Resolve Dampness
  • Clear Heat
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Severe, acute joint aching and pain
  • The pain is fixed in location
  • The pain is marked by pronounced swelling and distention of the affected joints
Treatment Principle
  • Eliminate Dampness
  • Discharge turbidity
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Transform Stasis
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Ulcerated sores that do not heal on a limb that is dark red
  • Slightly swollen and warm to the touch
  • There may me a rotten smell to the lesion
  • Gangrene of the extremities, especially the fingers and toes with purulent abscess
  • Extreme pain
  • Local inflammation and swelling
  • There may be copious discharge of pus from the ulcers
  • A burning sensation
  • Fever
  • Thirst
  • T: Red
  • C: Normal
  • P: Rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Resolve toxicity
  • Nourish Yin
  • Activate the Blood
  • Alleviate pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Heat and pain in the joints and muscles
  • Severe limitation of movement
  • Fever and shaking chills
  • Lusterless yellow complexion
  • Scanty, dark urine
  • Pain worse on cloudy or rainy days
  • Arthralgia involving one or several joints
  • Local redness and Heat of the extremities
  • Swelling with excruciating pain
  • Pain better during the day and worse at night
  • Numbness of the muscles
  • Thirst
  • Dryness of the mouth
  • Irritability
  • Muscular atrophy
  • Restlessness
  • Anorexia
  • Desire for Cold drinks
  • Loose stools
  • Aversion to Heat
  • Fullness of the chest
  • Pain improved with Cold and worse with Heat
  • Muscular swelling
  • Muscle redness
  • General heaviness
  • T:Red, maybe flabby
  • C: Yellow and greasy
  • P: Slippery and rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Eliminate Dampness
  • Invigorate the collaterals
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Enduring joint pain which is sometimes mild and sometimes stronger
  • The joint pain does not heal
  • Recurrent attacks of joint swelling
  • Restricted movement
  • Maybe dark, purple skin in the affected area
  • Stiffness, hardening and deformation of the joints
  • Tophi (painless uric acid crystals) under the skin, mainly on the face, ears and joints
  • T: Dark or Purple with possible static spots
  • C: White
  • P: Thready and choppy and/or wiry
Treatment Principle
  • Transform Phlegm
  • Dispel Stasis
  • Unblock the channels
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points