In Chinese medicine, joint pain is considered a blockage in the network of channels and pathways of the body. Joint pain, therefore, is referred to as a Blockage or Bi Syndrome. As the name implies, the flow of Qi becomes blocked, and when it persists for long enough, pain and other symptoms appear. According to Chinese Medicine, the most common cause of joint pain is a combination of Wind and Cold, which explains why joint pain tends to aggravate in Winter.
Wind, Heat, Cold, and Dampness are considered pathogenic. Excessive exposure to any of these factors allows them to invade the body and create imbalance. When not addressed, these pathogens can become chronic and lead to an obstruction in the flow of Qi. Keep in mind that centuries ago, they didn’t know about viruses and bacteria that we have today, so climatic factors were what was observed and used as an explanation for illness and symptoms. If you think about it, it may not be that far-fetched. Ever notice that you get sick right when the weather turns cold? Or that joint pain kicks up when it’s rainy?
How symptoms respond to different types of weather and how they present helps your Acupuncturist determine the best course of treatment.
Based on the symptoms manifested there are 5 main patterns of Bi Syndrome that might cause joint pain:
Wind Bi – where the pain is not fixed but moves to different joints in different areas.
Cold Bi – where the pain is fixed. It is characterized by stiffness that improves with the application of heat and is accompanied by reduced circulation and pale skin.
Sore Bi – pain more dominant, feels better after applying heat, feels worse when it gets cold.
Damp Bi – where limbs and joints feel heavy, numb and swollen and the pain is in a definite spot, painful to the touch.
Heat Bi – where the pain is severe and the joints are red, swollen, and inflamed, and the face is flushed.
Mainly herbs and acupuncture will be used to target the blockage imbalance in the whole body while relieving pain.
For example, rheumatoid arthritis, which manifests as warm, swollen, and painful joints, is considered a chronic pathogen (most likely dampness) that persists and turns to heat inside the body. Treatment would involve using acupuncture and/or herbs to help clear heat from the body to address the imbalance caused by the obstruction. It would also include ways to resolve the dampness that caused the obstruction in the first place. Lastly, the practitioner would address any underlying imbalances that may have made the person more susceptible to an invasion.
Acupuncture isn’t a one-and-done type of therapy. It may require several visits to your Acupuncturist before symptoms improve. It is a treatment, however, that comes without side effects and many patients experience improvements in their health such as better sleep, improved digestion, and a greater sense of overall well-being.
There are many ways we can alleviate joint pain through Chinese medicine. If you are experiencing chronic pain, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us to see how we can help.
In good health,
The Team at Olson Acupuncture & Nutritional Healing
