It is an important symptom. It can appear in any part

Empty-type Pain

Lack of nutrition, energy. Lack of expansion of energy. Indicates deficiency of Qi-Blood.

Full-type Pain

Blockage. The energy does not move. Stagnation.

Causes

• External: Attack of external pathogenic energy. Trauma
• Internal: Stagnation (of Qi, Dampness, Phlegm, food accumulation) blocking the channels, organs or tissues

Location of Pain

It must be taken into account that an attack of external pathogenic energy can internalize and a disease of internal origin can externalize.

• Exterior: In the 4 limbs, head and back (more Yang areas), joints, channels
• Interior: Organs (pneumonia, infarction), chest and abdomen (more Yin areas), marrow, bone

Characteristics of Pain

Pain with sensation of distension

In the abdomen, hypochondrium. Related to Qi stagnation. Causes:

• Cold prevents movement
• Liver-Qi stagnation: Qi blockage limits expansion and free circulation. Gives a pattern with more Heat and a wiry pulse

Stabbing and fixed Pain

One can point with a finger to where it hurts. Qi-Blood stagnation. Causes:

• Cold
• Trauma (fracture, sprain, poor circulation).

Bleeding sometimes helps to release. Or moxibustion to hold the Yang.

Pain with sensation of heaviness

Dampness. Dampness manifests:

• In the sky (head): headache with sensation of heaviness, somnolence after eating... The Dampness of the sky is resolved with rain, descending Yang Ming.

• In puddles of water (abdomen and legs): oedema, abdominal distension, heaviness in the legs, sluggishness. To dry the puddle the sun must shine on it, Yang is lacking: tonify SP and KI, descend Yang Ming.

Pain with burning sensation

Heat, inflammation, infection... Fire. There may be abscess, pus, fever.

Pain with sensation of cold

Relieved by heat. Usually an attack of Cold.

Pain that radiates to another location

Wind. Liver, blockage or deeper involvement, of sinew (sinew, bone and marrow belong to the deep, to the interior). The pathogenic energy has penetrated deeply. Lack of nutrition of the sinew and the Blood. When the Blood moves, Wind leaves. Treated by moving Qi-Blood.

Migratory Pain

Wind or Qi stagnation. Bi Syndrome (for example in joints, rheumatic arthritis). Treatment: move Qi-Blood in general, only at a local level it does not work.

Colic Pain

Stones in the Gall Bladder or in the Kidney... Very strong blockage

Dull Pain

Mild, chronic pain, lasting a long time. Relieved by pressure, by palpation. It is not unbearable. Usually accompanied by tiredness. Indicates Qi-Blood deficiency. Improves with moxibustion.