Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
White coating
Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the intense joints pain and stiffness which can be relieved when applying heat.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
External Cold, Wind and Dampness can penetrate the Body's Defensive Qi and settle down in the joints and muscles.
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.
Pathological Mechanism
It is a type of the Painful Obstruction Syndrome (Bi Syndrome 痹证). The Chinese name is called Tong Bi or Han Bi (痛痹 / 寒痹).
The Defensive Qi can be penetrated by external Pernicious Influences when the patients is in poor health. When the Cold invades the Channels and joints and settles there, it causes intense pain and stiffness, often in a single local place.
The Cold can also invade muscles and sinews and lead to pain and stiffness there, especially around shoulders and neck area.
This pain can be relieved by applying heat and worsen when exposed cold.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Warm the Channels, disperse Cold from Exterior, relieve pain
Explore More Patterns
Browse all TCM patterns of disharmony