Shoulder Stiffness in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different shoulder stiffness patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Shoulder stiffness encompasses a loss of the shoulder joint's normal range of motion, often accompanied by discomfort and the inability to perform movements such as reaching overhead or behind the back. This symptom may arise from various conditions, from postural issues to rotator cuff injuries, and can significantly disrupt daily activities and quality of life. While common in individuals who have sustained shoulder injuries, it can also occur without a clear cause, leading many to seek both medical and alternative treatments.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches shoulder stiffness as an obstruction within the body’s meridian system, specifically the pathways that regulate Qi, or vital energy, and blood flow to the shoulder. TCM emphasizes that such physical symptoms are often signs of deeper imbalances, potentially stemming from external pathogenic factors or internal organ disharmonies.
Treatment focuses on identifying the unique pattern of disharmony for each individual, thereby enabling a tailored approach that seeks to restore the body’s natural flow of energy and alleviate symptoms.
TCM Patterns for Shoulder Stiffness
Blood Stasis
Causes: Shoulder stiffness
Blood Stagnation
Shoulder stiffness
Along with: Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Lumps
Yang Excess
Causes: Stiff shoulder
Liver Yang Rising
Stiff shoulder
Along with: Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat, Insomnia, Irritability, Exhaustion, Anger, Stiff neck, Shoulder stiffness, Stiff upper back
Herbal Formulas for Shoulder Stiffness
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address shoulder stiffness
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Heat and
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff shoulder
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines
- Reduces swelling and disperses lumps
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff shoulder
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Blood Stasis
- Softens lumps
- Reduces fixed abdominal pain
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Cools the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Increases Fluids
- Relaxes the sinews
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff shoulder
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Di Dang Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Da Chai Hu Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang
- Drains internal clumping due to Heat
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff shoulder
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Dan Shen Yin
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Promote Qi movement
- Relieves pain
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin and Blood
- Sedates the Heart and calms the Mind
- Calms the Liver
- Anchors the yang
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff shoulder
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
- Generates new Blood
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Zhen Xin An Shen Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Anchors the Heart and calms the Mind
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff shoulder
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Reduces swelling
- Induces ulceration
- Moves the Blood and dispels stasis
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Hai Tong Pi Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Disperses swelling
- Dispels Wind, Dampness and Cold
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms and harmonizes the channels
- Unblocks painful obstruction
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Yu Lin Zhu
Addresses these shoulder stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
- Consolidates the Penetrating and Directing Vessel (Chong Mai, Ren Mai)
- Facilitating pregnancy
- Promotes Blood circulation and regulates menstruation
Addresses These Shoulder Stiffness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Shoulder stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...