Skin Numbness in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different skin numbness patterns according to TCM theory
Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice
Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Skin numbness, a common sensation, refers to a loss or decrease in skin sensitivity. It can manifest as a tingling or a complete lack of feeling in the affected area. This symptom might arise from a variety of causes, such as nerve compression, poor circulation, or as a side effect of certain medical conditions. While often temporary, persistent numbness may require medical evaluation to identify and treat the underlying cause.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets skin numbness differently from Western medicine. In TCM, numbness is viewed as a symptom arising from imbalances or blockages within the body's energetic pathways.
This perspective considers a range of underlying patterns of disharmony rather than isolating the symptom to a specific physical cause. TCM emphasizes the need to accurately diagnose the underlying pattern to effectively treat the numbness, underscoring a holistic approach to health.
TCM Patterns for Skin Numbness
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Along with: General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, Dizziness, Poor memory, Insomnia, Dislike of speaking, Loss of appetite, Limb numbness, Skin numbness
Blood Deficiency
Causes: Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Along with: General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, Dizziness, Poor memory, Insomnia, Dislike of speaking, Loss of appetite, Limb numbness, Skin numbness
Blood Stasis
Causes: Numbness
Blood Stagnation
Numbness
Along with: Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Lumps
Phlegm
Causes: Numbness
Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
Numbness
Along with: Skin numbness, Skeletal deformities, Joint stiffness, Arthralgia, Muscle pain
Dampness
Causes: Numbness in the skin
Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
Numbness in the skin
Along with: Arthralgia, Joint stiffness, Swollen joints, Skin numbness, Heavy joint, Muscle numbness
Wind
Causes: Numbness
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
Numbness
Along with: High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Heat
Causes: Numbness
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
Numbness
Along with: High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Herbal Formulas for Skin Numbness
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address skin numbness
Gui Pi Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood
- Tonifies Heart and Spleen
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Ba Zhen Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and augments Qi
- Tonifies and augments Blood
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Cools the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Increases Fluids
- Relaxes the sinews
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Guo Qi Yin
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the menses
- Dispels blood Stagnation
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Feng Yin Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Extinguishes and pacifies Wind with heavy medicinals
- Calms the Mind
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes the Blood
- Restores the pulse
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi and Blood
- Nourishes the Heart
- Calms the Mind
- Warms Yang
- Strengthens the Spleen and Lungs
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies Qi
- Warms and tonifies Blood
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)
- Raises the Yang
- Detoxifies
- Lifts what has sunken
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin, Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Expels Wind Damp from the Channels
- Invigorates Blood
- Unblocks the channels
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin
Accompanying symptoms:
Arthralgia, Joint stiffness, Swollen joints, Skin numbness, Heavy joint, Muscle numbness
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Heat and
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Unblocks painful obstruction
- Relieves pain
- Invigorate Qi
- Dispels Blood Stagnation
- Unblock Channels
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Skin numbness, Skeletal deformities, Joint stiffness, Arthralgia, Muscle pain
Xiao Huo Luo Dan
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Wind
- Eliminates Dampness and transforms Phlegm
- Invigorates the Blood
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
How it manifests:
Numbness in the skin
Accompanying symptoms:
Arthralgia, Joint stiffness, Swollen joints, Skin numbness, Heavy joint, Muscle numbness
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines
- Reduces swelling and disperses lumps
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Blood Stasis
- Softens lumps
- Reduces fixed abdominal pain
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Di Dang Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Dan Shen Yin
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Promote Qi movement
- Relieves pain
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
- Generates new Blood
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Reduces swelling
- Induces ulceration
- Moves the Blood and dispels stasis
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Hai Tong Pi Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Disperses swelling
- Dispels Wind, Dampness and Cold
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Addresses these skin numbness patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms and harmonizes the channels
- Unblocks painful obstruction
Addresses These Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Yu Lin Zhu
Addresses these skin numbness 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 Skin Numbness Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Numbness
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...