Acupuncture for Arthritis - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Sat, 08/19/2006 - 1:35pm

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for arthritis (also known as bi-syndromes in TCM theory). There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

  • Differentiation:
    • Wandering Bi (Wind)
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Wandering pain in one joint or several at a time
        • Limitation of Movement
        • Fever and aversion to wind
        • Pulse:  Floating and Rapid
        • Tongue:  Thin, white coating
      • Treatment Points:
        • GV 14 - eliminate wind and heat
        • TH 6 - dispels wind, stops pain
        • GB 39 - joint pain
        • (Use of even needling method)
    • Painful Bi (Cold)
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Pain is fixed and severe
        • No local redness or heat (swelling possible)
        • Pain worse in cold weather, better with heat
        • Limitation of movement
        • Pulse:  Wiry or Tight
        • Tongue:  White coating
      • Treatment Points:
        • ST 36 & CV 6 - tonify Qi and eliminate cold
        • LI 11 - promotes circulation of Qi and Blood, stops pain
    • Fixed Bi (Damp)
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Heaviness of local area
        • Numbness of skin and muscles
        • Fixed pain and swelling
        • Pain worse in damp weather
        • Pulse:  Slippery or soft
        • Tongue:  White greasy coating
      • Treatment Points:
        • SP 6 - needle and moxa to assist Spleen
        • SP 9 - needle to eliminate damp
        • Bony Bi: Joint deformity due to phlegm obstructing the channels
          UB 11 - meeting point of the bones
          GB 39 - meeting point of the bone marrow
          ST 40 - to resolve phlegm
    • Febrile Bi (Heat)
      • Signs & Symptoms:
        • Painful joints, severe with heat, swelling
        • Local redness
        • Limitation of movement
        • Fever or thirst
        • Pulse:  Slippery, rapid
        • Tongue:  Greasy, yellow coating
      • Treatment Points
        • ST 43 & LI 4 - eliminate heat from Yang Ming
        • (Use reducing method)
  • Treatment Points for all Differentiations According to Affected Regions:

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

  • St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
  • Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes

Comments

pi's picture
by pi - 09/07/2007 - 5:21am

What points would be

What points would be recommended for someone who has osteoarthritis primarily in the hand, and not in the fingers? Any other treatment suggestions?

Thanks!

Chad Dupuis's picture
by Chad Dupuis - 05/30/2008 - 12:57pm

As with arthritis anywhere

As with arthritis anywhere in the body, you would first start with treating the persons overall pattern that you have arrived at from looking at the full set of signs and symptoms.  Then you could add in the points for the "wrist" and "fingers" above which are good for hand issues.  You can also needle the "ashi" or "ouch" points which is essentially anywhere the person is experiencing pain. 

pi's picture
by pi - 06/04/2007 - 12:54am

Do these treatment protocols

Do these treatment protocols apply to all forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis?

Thanks!

Chad Dupuis's picture
by Chad Dupuis - 06/07/2007 - 3:25pm

For the symptoms, yes.

For the symptoms, yes. Rheumatoid has an autoimmune component to it as well which needs to be treated for better long-term results. In the Tam Healing system we use the huatuo points of Thoracic 1, 2 and 3 to regulate the immune system.

pi's picture
by pi - 06/08/2007 - 10:05am

Are there any other points

Are there any other points besides the huato points you mentioned that would help with the immune system? Would using the points K3, ST36, SP6 also help in strengthening the immune system?

Thanks!

Chad Dupuis's picture
by Chad Dupuis - 06/08/2007 - 11:40am

Yes, all of the appropriate

Yes, all of the appropriate TCM based points would be applicable as well. First and foremost you need to perform a comprehensive intake and arrive at a precise Chinese Medicine diagnosis. From that point, choose appropriate TCM points, points for local pain/mobility issues, and possibly the huatuo points above for the immune system overall.