important diagnostic indications in

Important Diagnostic Indications in Traditional Chinese Medicine for

Treating Pain

Nature of Pain Traditional Chinese Medicine Pattern Diagnosis

If pain is sharp, stabbing and fixed than Blood Stasis is indicated.

If pain is variable, vague and wandering than L iver Qi Depression and

Wind is indicated.

If pain is dull, achy and chronic, then Kidney Deficiency, Cold Damp

and Spleen Deficiency

with Dampness is indicated. If pain is heavy, swollen, and fixed, then

Dampness is indicated.

Duration of Pain

Acute pain indicates Blood Stasis or Invasion of External Pathogens.

Chronic pain indicates Kidney or Spleen Deficiency with Damp and Blood

Stasis due to repeated strains.

Aggravation of Pain

Cold Weather- Indicates all of the Patterns

Worse in the morning- Indicates Cold Damp

Worse in the afternoon- IndicatesKidney Deficiency

Worse with stress- IndicatesLiver Qi Stagnation

Worse with pressure- Indicates Blood Stasis

Worse with activity- Indicates Deficiency Patterns

Worse after sex- Indicates Kidney Deficiency

Worse with hot weather- Indicates Damp Heat

Amelioration of Pain

Pain that improves with rest indicates Kidney Deficiency.

Pain that improves with exercise indicated Liver Qi Stagnation.

Pain that improves with mild exercise indicayes Blood Stasis.

Pain that improves with heat and mild exercise indicates Cold, Cold

Damp, or Kidney Yang Deficiency.

In treating pain with Traditional Chinese Medicine, the goal is not to

mask the pain, but to open the channel blockages, eliminate pathogenic

influences and to correct deficiencies.The diagnostic indications

which have been described above help make a comprehensive analysis of

the symptoms and signs of an individual pattern.

Many chronic pain patients become emotionally debilitated, leading to

depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia or restless sleep.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is very effective to treat these symptoms

as well.