In the inquiry about body and joints we will ask about pain, sensation of heaviness or swelling, joint pain and lower back pain. The details about the characteristics of pain give us key information for diagnostic differentiation.
Generalized body pain
By invasion of exterior Cold
Wind-Cold attacks the Greater Yang layer. The pain is accompanied by chills, fever, floating pulse. (flu, common cold)
By Qi and Blood Deficiency
In case of spending many days in bed after an illness. Weak, empty and deep pulse. The body aches due to stagnation. It is a muscle soreness type pain. For these people a massage makes it worse, it hurts more. It is necessary to tonify Qi and Blood.
Heaviness of the body
Dampness blocks Spleen-Yang, does not allow the circulation of Qi. When Qi moves, dampness goes away. It is necessary to move Qi and Blood.
If there is also fluid retention it is necessary to tonify Kidney-Yang and Spleen-Yang, and induce diuresis: SP-9, BL-20, BL-22, BL-23
Joint pain
The joints of the limbs are very much related to the exterior. Changes in weather and exterior energies affect them.
The Bi Syndrome is invasion of Wind, Cold and Dampness. The three energies enter together.
- If there is more Wind the pain is moving
- If there is more Cold the pain is stabbing and fixed
- If there is more Dampness, the pain is accompanied by sensation of heaviness, swelling and fluid retention.
If the pulse is floating, the pathogenic energy is in the channels and usually eliminates itself. If the pulse is deep, the pathogenic energy has penetrated the interior (bones, marrow) and is more difficult to treat. Remember: BL-11 meeting of bones, GB-39 meeting of marrow, GB-34 meeting of sinews.
Lower back pain
By invasion of Cold and Dampness
Blocks the Bladder Channel. Sensation of cold, the pain worsens with cold and improves with heat.
- If it radiates to one leg (sciatica): Yang Stepping Vessel is affected. The person limps, loses right-left balance.
- The temperature of the leg changes: Yang Linking Vessel is affected. One leg is colder than the other.
By Blood stasis
By trauma, wrong movement. It is a stabbing and fixed pain, rejects palpation. It can affect Bladder (floating pulse) and/or Penetrating Vessel (deep pulse). Sometimes it radiates upwards or forwards.
By weak Kidneys
Dull pain, improves with pressure and likes palpation. Person with tiredness. The pain worsens when tired or after sexual relations. Tonify Kidney-Yang.