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.
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Generalized body pain can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like generalized body pain here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here generalized body pain is often associated with aversion to cold, fever and chills in the pattern “Exterior-Cold”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause generalized body pain.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of generalized body pain we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat generalized body pain.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause generalized body pain
In Chinese Medicine generalized body pain is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the king ingredient for Ma Huang Tang, a formula used for Exterior-Cold
Exterior-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
In addition to generalized body pain, other symptoms associated with Exterior-Cold include aversion to cold, fever and chills.
Exterior-Cold is often treated with Ma Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ephedra - Ma Huang - as a key herb). Ma Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases exterior cold".
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the king ingredient for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick white coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
This is when Body Fluids stagnate in the four limbs instead of flowing in the body and getting released as sweat.
In addition to generalized body pain, other symptoms associated with Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs include irritability, alternating fever and chills and absence of sweating.
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs is often treated with Da Qing Long Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Ephedra - Ma Huang - as a key herb). Da Qing Long Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes sweating".
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Gui Zhi Tang, a formula used for Exterior-Empty
Exterior-Empty
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Floating (Fu)
In addition to generalized body pain, other symptoms associated with Exterior-Empty include aversion to cold, headaches and fatigue.
Exterior-Empty is often treated with Gui Zhi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Gui Zhi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases pathogens from the muscle layer".
Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) is the king ingredient for Jing Fang Bai Du San, a formula used for Wind-Cold
Wind-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
In addition to generalized body pain, other symptoms associated with Wind-Cold include aversion to cold, fever and headaches.
Wind-Cold is often treated with Jing Fang Bai Du San, a herbal formula made of 13 herbs (including Japanese Catnip - Jing Jie - as a key herb). Jing Fang Bai Du San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases the Exterior".
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the king ingredient for Fu Zi Tang, a formula used for Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Minute (Wei), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
In addition to generalized body pain, other symptoms associated with Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp include aching bones and joints and cold extremities.
Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp is often treated with Fu Zi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Fu Zi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm and transform water and dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Meridians".
Five herbal formulas that might help with generalized body pain
Ma Huang Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Releases exterior cold. Treats wheezing.
Why might Ma Huang Tang help with generalized body pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Exterior-Cold' of which generalized body pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Exterior-Cold include aversion to cold, fever and chills.
Fu Zi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Meridians. Assists the Yang. Dispels Cold. Transforms Dampness.
Why might Fu Zi Tang help with generalized body pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency with Cold-Damp' of which generalized body pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Yang Deficiency With Cold-Damp include aching bones and joints and cold extremities.
Da Qing Long Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Promotes sweating. Releases the Exterior. Clears Interior Heat.
Why might Da Qing Long Tang help with generalized body pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs' of which generalized body pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm-Fluids In The Limbs include irritability, alternating fever and chills and absence of sweating.
Gui Zhi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Releases pathogens from the muscle layer. Regulates the Nutritive and Protective Qi.
Why might Gui Zhi Tang help with generalized body pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Exterior-Empty' of which generalized body pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Exterior-Empty include aversion to cold, headaches and fatigue.
Jing Fang Bai Du San
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 13 herbs
Key actions: Releases the Exterior. Dispels Wind and Dampness. Augments Qi.
Why might Jing Fang Bai Du San help with generalized body pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Cold' of which generalized body pain is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Wind-Cold include aversion to cold, fever and headaches.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat generalized body pain
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with generalized body pain?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat generalized body pain as a symptom, like Ma Huang Tang or Gui Zhi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with generalized body pain?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat generalized body pain as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Tang or Ma Huang Tang for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Ephedra (Ma Huang) help with generalized body pain?
Because Ephedra is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat generalized body pain as a symptom, like Ma Huang Tang or Da Qing Long Tang for instance.
Ephedra is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Bladder and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Releases the surface through sweating. Promotes the circulation of Lung Qi and stop wheezing. Promotes urination.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with generalized body pain?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat generalized body pain as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Tang or Ge Gen Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might White Peony Root (Bai Shao) help with generalized body pain?
Because White Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat generalized body pain as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Tang or Fu Zi Tang for instance.
White Peony Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sour. It targets the Spleen and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain.
Other symptoms often associated with generalized body pain
Aversion to cold Fever Headaches Chills Sneezing Runny nose Blocked nose Irritability Alternating fever and chills Absence of sweating