Health & Wellness Tips - Constantly troubled by joint pains? Learn what they are in TCM

Constantly troubled by joint pains? Learn what they are in TCM
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, any joint pains caused by Wind-dampness are categorized as “Bi Syndrome” – due to a mixture of Wind, Damp, Cold or Heat pathogens. They block the meridians and thus cause the malnourishment of the joints that leads to pain. 
Symptoms:

• Swelling, numbness and pain of joints, relief after exercise
• Obvious stiffness of joints in the morning, 
• Joints range of motion are reduced, weakness 
• Joints deformity
• Feeling of warmth/heat near joints
• Pain worsens during change of weather (cloudy days)

4 Main Types of Wind-Damp Syndrome
*Massage lightly with thumb for 3-5 mins
Yin Pathogen – Treatment method: Disperse cold, remove dampness and stagnation
1. Cold Bi: Severe pain with fixed location, worsen when cold

• Yang Chi point (TB4): Depression on the back wrist crease between the meeting point of the 4th & 5th metacarpal bones
• Guan Yuan point (REN4): Around 4 fingers width below the umbilicus

2. Dampness Bi: Swelling of joints with heavy sensation, pain location mostly on lower body

• Yin Ling Quan point (SP9): Outer side of the calf, depression below the protrusion of the fibula
• Zhu San Li point (ST36): 4 fingers width below the depression of the outer patella

Yang Pathogen – Treatment method: Clear heat, expel wind
3. Heat Bi: Redness, swelling and pain of joints, worsen when hot

• He Gu point (LI4): Depression between the base of the thumb & index finger, closer to index finger
• Qu Chi point (LI11): Outer end of elbow crease when flexed

4. Wind Bi: Unlocalized pain, pain location mostly on upper body

• Feng Chi point (GB20): Outer side depression of the two large tendons on the neck, same level with earlobe.
• Xue Hai point (SP10): Around 3 fingers width above the inner side of the patella