Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles

The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.

At a glance

Preliminary reading: What is a pattern?

Key attributes

Chinese name: 热痹 Pinyin name: Rè Bì

Pattern nature: Full

Causes

Common causes: 1. Weak constitution, 2. External Heat

Diagnosis

Common symptoms: Fever Thirst Anxiety Joints pain Joint stiff and three other symptoms

Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)

Tongue description: Red tongue with yellow and dry coating

Treatment

Treatment principle: Clear Heat, unblock Channels, expel Wind and Dampness

Common formulas: Xuan Bi Tang

Pathology

It is a type of the Painful Obstruction Syndrome (Bi Syndrome 痹证).

When Pernicious Influences such as Wind, Damp or Cold or Heat penetrates the Defensive Qi and obstructs the Channels, they disturb the normal Qi and Blood circulation of the Channels and give rise to pain and swollen.

If the patients happens to have Yang Excess or Yin Deficiency, the excessive Interior Heat then gets combined with the Exterior Wind, Damp or Cold and transforms to Exterior Heat, which then settles down in the joints.

The manifestation of the Heat are the red and hot joints in additional to pain, stiffness and swollen. The conditions often happen in several joints instead of a single local area. The patients also experience other symptoms such as thirst or anxiety.

Causes

Weak constitution: Weak constitution means the Defensive Qi is not strong enough to fight against the external Pernicious Influence invasion. It can be due to genetic defect, overwork, lack of exercise, or long term sickness.

External Heat : Prolong exposure to a hot environment can cause this pattern.

Diagnosing Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles

Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua)

Tongue description: Red tongue with yellow and dry coating

Main symptoms: Fever Thirst Anxiety Joints pain Joint stiff Swollen joints Aversion to wind Joints red and hot

Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the joints pain, swollen, red and heat. These symptoms often occur to several joints at the same time.