WRIST AND HAND PAIN

Clinical Manifestations
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
  • For pain in the hands: LI-4, LI-11, LI-15
  • For spasms of the hands: LI-4, LI-11, LU-6, PC-7
  • For Heat in the hands: LI-4, LU-7
  • For a burning sensation in the hands: LU-7, LU-8, LU-9
  • For redness and swelling of the hands: SJ-2, SJ-3
  • For wrist, hand and finger pain: Bafeng, LI-4, LI-5, LI-11, LI-15, LU-8, LU-9, Shixuan, SI-4, SI-5, SJ-3, SJ-4, SJ-5
  • For Dupuyren's contracture: LI-8, SJ-8, SP-3, SP-5
  • For Quervain's disease (painful stenosing tenosynovitis): Ahshi, LI-1, LI-4, LI-5, LU-7
  • For carpal tunnel syndrome: HT-1, HT-9, LI-15, PC-4, PC-6, PC-7, PC-9, SI-6, SJ-1, SJ-4, SJ-8
  • For reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the hand: HT-1, HT-9, PC-2, SJ-8
  • For degenerative joint disease: Zeqian, moxa LI-5
    For Heart sinew channel: Banmen, LU-11
    For Lung sinew channel: REN-12, SP-3
  • For nodular degenerative disease: Baxie, LI-5, LI-11, Shangbaxie, SJ-5
  • For wrist drop: Bizhong, SI-6
  • Trigger Points:
    1. Anterior, Middle and Posterior Scalene Muscles:
        Referred pain in the thumb and index finger or in the dorsal     aspect of the wrist and five fingers: Point located in the area of     LI-17
    2. Scalene Minimus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the lateral aspect of the arm, the posterior     aspect of the forearm and the dorsal aspect of the hand: Point     located in the area of ST-10
    3. Infraspinatus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the radial aspect of the hand and occasionally     of the fingertips: Point located in the area of SI-11
    4. Latissimus Dorsi Muscle:
        Referred pain in the medial border of the hand and fourth and     fifth fingers: Point located in the area of GB-22
    5. Subscapularis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the dorsal aspect of the wrist: Point located in     the area of the posterior aspect of the axilla in the body of the     Subscapularis muscle
    6. Coracobrachialis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the dorsal aspect of the hand: Point located in     the area of LU-2
    7. Brachialis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the base and dorsal aspect of the thumb: Point     located in the area of LU-4 and Xiaxiabai
    8. Triceps Brachii Muscle, Lateral Head:
        Referred pain in the palmar aspect of the fourth and fifth     fingers: Point located in the area of HT-2
    9. Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle:
        Referred pain in the ulnar border of the posterior aspect of the     wrist: Point located in the area of SI-7 and SI-8
    10. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the dorsal aspect of the wrist: Point located in     the area of Niushangxue
    11. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the dorsal aspect of the hand and anatomical     snuff box: Point located in the area of LI-11
    12. Brachioradialis Muscles:
        Referred pain in the base of the thumb and interdigital space:     Point located in the area of LI-10
    13. Extensor Digiti Muscle:
        Referred pain in the dorsal aspect of the hand and fingers,     except the last phalanges: Point located in the area of SJ-5 and     Yingxia
    14. Supinator Muscle:
        Referred pain in the dorsal aspect of the thumb: Point located     in the area of Zexia
    15. Palmaris Longus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the palm of the hand: Point located in     the area of HT-3
    16. Flexor Carpi Radialis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the palmar aspect of the wrist: Point located in     the area of Xishang
    17. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle:
        Referred pain in the hypothenar eminence: Point located on the     Heart channel, 3 cun below HT-3
    18. Flexor Digitorum Muscle:
        Referred pain in the finger corresponding to the involved
        muscle head: Point located at the junction of the superior third     and inferior two-thirds of the volar surface of the forearm
    19. Flexor Policis Longus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the palmar aspect of the thumb and its     extremity: Point located in the area of Erbai
    20. Pronator Teres Muscle:
        Referred pain in the radial border of the palmar aspect of the     wrist and thenar eminence: Point located in the area of Zeqian
    21. Adductor Pollisis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the lateral border of the thumb, its base and     the thenar eminence: Point located in the area of the palmar     aspect of the first interosseus space
    22. Oponens Pollicis Muscle:
        Referred pain in the palmar aspect of the thumb and the     radial border of the palmar aspect of the wrist: Point located     in the area of LU-10
    23. First Dorsal Interosseus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the index finger, the dorsal and palmar aspect     of the hand and the dorsal aspect of the fifth finger: Point     located in the area of Hubian
    24. Second Dorsal Interosseus Muscle:
        Referred pain in the lateral border of the middle finger: Point     located in the area of Yaotong #1 and Luozhen
    25. Abductor Digiti Minimi Muscle:
        Referred pain in the posteriolateral aspect of the fifth finger:     Point located in the area of Shanghouxi
    26. Pectoralis Major Muscle:
        The sternal head causes referred pain in the palm of the hand     and the palmar aspect of the third, fourth and fifth fingers:     Point located in the area of ST-15
    27. Subclavius Muscle:
        Referred pain in the first three fingers: Point located in the area     of KI-27
    28. Pectoralis Minor Muscle:
        Referred pain in the palmar aspect of the last three fingers:
        Point located in the area of LU-1
    29. Serratus Posterior Superior Muscle:
        Referred pain in the medial aspect of the hand and fifth
        finger: Point located in the area of UB-41
Clinical Manifestations
  • Palm pain with a Cold, heavy sensation
  • Joint swelling and pain, especially in the wrist, ankle, knee and elbow
  • Pale skin on the hands
  • Aversion to Cold with a slight fever
  • Numb or frigid fingers
  • 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
  • Poor appetite
  • No thirst
  • Clear urine
  • The pain worse at night
  • Local inflammation
  • Migratory pain
  • Deviation of the eyes and mouth
  • Spasm of the limbs
  • T: Pale or Slightly purple or purple spots
  • C: White and moist or Thick and white
  • P: Slippery or Slightly superficial or slightly rough or Slow and Soft or Wiry and tight or Floating and wiry or Floating and tight
Treatment Principle
  • Remove Wind-Dampness
  • Disperse Cold
  • Eliminate Painful Obstruction
  • Circulate Qi and Blood
  • Stop pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Moving pain
  • Pain aggravated by Wind
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Muscle numbness
  • Shoulder pain
  • Neck pain
  • Elbow pain
  • Hand pain
  • Low back pain
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Foot pain
  • Preference for warmth
  • Limited movement
  • Lack of thirst
  • Cold extremities
  • T: Pink
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Wiry and tight
Treatment Principle
  • Dispel Wind
  • Warm the channels
  • Sedate pain
  • Circulate Qi
  • Harmonize the Blood
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Aversion to Cold
  • Cold extremities
  • Coldness of the affected area
  • Cold pain
  • Pain better with warmth
  • Pain aggravated by Cold
  • Sharp, stabbing pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Neck pain
  • Elbow pain
  • Low back pain
  • Hand pain
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Foot pain
  • Lack of thirst
  • Limited joint movement
  • T: Pale or Purple
  • C: Thin, white or Greasy white
  • P: Wiry and tight
Treatment Principle
  • Warm the Channels
  • Dispel Cold
  • Circulate the Blood
  • Alleviate pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Palmar pain with hot, heavy sensations
  • Redness and swelling and a burning feeling in the finger joints
  • A preference for Cold
  • 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
  • Yellow urine
  • Restlessness
  • T: Normal or Red
  • C: Yellow or 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
  • Pain is sharp and superficial
  • Worse with pressure
  • Worse with Heat
  • Better with Cold
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Pain is deep and dull
  • Better with pressure
  • Better with Heat
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 is deep and dull
  • Worse with pressure
  • Worse with Cold
  • Better with Heat
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Pain is sharp and superficial
  • Better with pressure
  • Better with Cold
Treatment Principle
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Traumatic injury to or surgery on the wrist, fingers and palm
  • Long standing pain in the palm
  • Fixed, stabbing pain which is worse at night
  • Pain alleviated by movement
  • Rigidity of the palm or fingers
  • Swelling of the joint and hands
  • T: Purplish
  • C: Thin
  • P: Wiry and choppy
Treatment Principle
  • Tonify Qi and Blood
  • Invigorate the Blood
  • Regulate Qi
  • Break up Stasis
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Center of the palm mottled purple and white changing to white
  • Skin of the hand is thick, dry, withered and cracked
  • Gradually spreads to the whole hand
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Blood Heat
  • Disperse Wind
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Pain in the upper arm
  • Aches and pains in the wrist, forearm and elbow
  • T: Pink
  • C: Slippery
  • P: Slippery
Treatment Principle
  • Dry Dampness
  • Transform Phlegm
  • Dispel Wind
  • Dredge the Channels
  • Relieve pain
Herb Formulas
Points
Clinical Manifestations
  • Ulcers and edema in the palm
  • Reddish skin on the palm with a hot feeling
  • Extreme pain worse with pressure
  • Itching with a wet palm
  • 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
  • Local inflammation and swelling
  • There may be copious discharge of pus from the ulcers
  • A burning sensation
  • Fever
  • Constipation
  • Thirst with a desire for cold drinks
  • A bitter taste in the mouth
  • Scanty, yellow urine
  • T: Red
  • C: Normal or Yellow and dry
  • P: Rapid
Treatment Principle
  • Clear Heat
  • Resolve toxicity
  • Nourish Yin
  • Activate the Blood
  • Alleviate pain
Herb Formulas
Points