Stiff Neck in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different stiff neck patterns according to TCM theory
Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice
Condition Categories
Condition Categories
A stiff neck, medically termed cervical rigidity, refers to a condition characterized by reduced mobility and discomfort in the neck area. This symptom involves a limitation in the range of motion, often accompanied by pain or discomfort when attempting to turn or tilt the head.
It's a common ailment that can arise from various causes, including muscle strain, prolonged awkward positioning, or underlying health issues.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a stiff neck is seen as a disruption in the harmonious balance of the body's energies. TCM interprets this condition not just as a physical ailment but as a reflection of underlying imbalances in the flow of Qi (vital energy) and Blood.
According to TCM, the neck is a pivotal area where Qi and Blood circulate to connect the head and the body, and any disruption in this area can lead to stiffness. The holistic view of TCM also considers environmental, emotional, and lifestyle factors contributing to this condition.
TCM Patterns for Stiff Neck
Wind
Causes: Rigidity of neck, Stiff neck
Heat victorious stirring Wind
Rigidity of neck
Along with: High fever, Loss of consciousness, Limb twitching, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Opisthotonos, Eyeballs turning up, Clenching of teeth
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
Rigidity of neck
Along with: High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Exterior Wind
Stiff neck
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Headaches, Wind phobia, Nasal discharge, Clear sputum, Itchy throat, Sneezing, Coughing, Muscle pain, Itchy skin
Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Stiff neck
Along with: Slight aversion to cold, Wind phobia, Low grade fever, Mild sweating, Sneezing, Occipital headache
Wind-Cold-Damp invading with Qi Deficiency
Stiff neck
Along with: High fever, Fever without perspiration, Headaches, Neck pain, Painful extremities, Focal distention, Chest distension, Congested nose, Noisy breathing, Coughing
Cold
Causes: Stiff neck
Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
Stiff neck
Along with: Arthralgia, Joint stiffness, Muscle pain, Swollen joints, Muscle numbness
Exterior-Cold
Stiff neck
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Body pain, Lack of sweating, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat, Chills
Greater Yang Attack of Cold
Stiff neck
Along with: Occipital headache, Aversion to cold, Low grade fever, Lack of sweating, Sneezing, Nasal discharge, Shortness of breath
Wind-Cold-Damp invading with Qi Deficiency
Stiff neck
Along with: High fever, Fever without perspiration, Headaches, Neck pain, Painful extremities, Focal distention, Chest distension, Congested nose, Noisy breathing, Coughing
Heat
Causes: Rigidity of neck, Stiff neck
Heat victorious stirring Wind
Rigidity of neck
Along with: High fever, Loss of consciousness, Limb twitching, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Opisthotonos, Eyeballs turning up, Clenching of teeth
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
Rigidity of neck
Along with: High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Exterior-Heat
Stiff neck
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Excessive sweating, Thirst, Body pain
Yang Excess
Causes: Stiff neck
Liver Yang Rising
Stiff neck
Along with: Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth, Dry throat, Insomnia, Irritability, Exhaustion, Anger, Shoulder stiffness, Stiff upper back
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Stiff neck
Wind-Cold-Damp invading with Qi Deficiency
Stiff neck
Along with: High fever, Fever without perspiration, Headaches, Neck pain, Painful extremities, Focal distention, Chest distension, Congested nose, Noisy breathing, Coughing
Dampness
Causes: Stiff neck
Wind-Cold-Damp invading with Qi Deficiency
Stiff neck
Along with: High fever, Fever without perspiration, Headaches, Neck pain, Painful extremities, Focal distention, Chest distension, Congested nose, Noisy breathing, Coughing
Herbal Formulas for Stiff Neck
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address stiff neck
Ren Shen Bai Du San
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Dispels Wind and Dampness
- Augments Qi
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold-Damp invading with Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Fever without perspiration, Headaches, Neck pain, Painful extremities, Focal distention...
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Cools the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Increases Fluids
- Relaxes the sinews
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Heat victorious stirring Wind
How it manifests:
Rigidity of neck
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Loss of consciousness, Limb twitching, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Opisthotonos...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
How it manifests:
Rigidity of neck
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
How it manifests:
Rigidity of neck
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Feng Yin Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Extinguishes and pacifies Wind with heavy medicinals
- Calms the Mind
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to extreme Heat
How it manifests:
Rigidity of neck
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Convulsions, Stiff neck, Hand tremor, Opisthotonos
Gui Zhi Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases pathogens from the muscle layer
- Regulates the Nutritive and Protective Qi
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Exterior-Cold
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Body pain, Lack of sweating, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat...
Greater Yang Attack of Wind
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Slight aversion to cold, Wind phobia, Low grade fever, Mild sweating, Sneezing, Occipital headache
Wu Tou Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the channels and remove obstruaction
- Disperse Cold and Dampness
- Warms the joints
- Relieve joints pain
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Arthralgia, Joint stiffness, Muscle pain, Swollen joints, Muscle numbness
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Relieves headaches
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Exterior Wind
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Headaches, Wind phobia, Nasal discharge, Clear sputum...
Yin Qiao San
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind Heat
- Clears Heat
- Resolves Toxicity
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Exterior-Heat
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Excessive sweating, Thirst, Body pain
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Xiao Huo Luo Dan
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Wind
- Eliminates Dampness and transforms Phlegm
- Invigorates the Blood
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Arthralgia, Joint stiffness, Muscle pain, Swollen joints, Muscle numbness
Shi Gao Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Releases the Exterior
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Exterior-Heat
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Excessive sweating, Thirst, Body pain
Da Chai Hu Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang
- Drains internal clumping due to Heat
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Ma Huang Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases exterior cold
- Treats wheezing
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Exterior-Cold
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Body pain, Lack of sweating, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat...
Greater Yang Attack of Cold
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Occipital headache, Aversion to cold, Low grade fever, Lack of sweating, Sneezing, Nasal discharge...
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin and Blood
- Sedates the Heart and calms the Mind
- Calms the Liver
- Anchors the yang
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...
Zhen Xin An Shen Tang
Addresses these stiff neck patterns:
Main Actions
- Anchors the Heart and calms the Mind
Addresses These Stiff Neck Pattern Variations
Liver Yang Rising
How it manifests:
Stiff neck
Accompanying symptoms:
Headaches, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Deafness, Blurry vision, Dry mouth...