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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Knee 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 knee 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 knee pain is often associated with dizziness, back pain and tinnitus in the pattern “Kidney Yin Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause knee pain.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of knee 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 knee pain.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause knee pain
In Chinese Medicine knee 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.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Kidney Yin Deficiency causes false Heat symptoms, such as night sweats, thirst and five palm heat. These signs are from a depletion of Body Fluids and Essence. It can be caused by prolonged overwork, excessive sexual activity, chronic long term illnesses, consumption of Body Fluids by Heat, prolonged blood loss, overdosage of Kidney Yang tonics herbs, smoking and Kidney depleting foods such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, and fruit juices.
In addition to knee pain, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include dizziness, back pain and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Menopausal Syndrome, Prolonged Periods or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to knee pain, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, back pain and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Si Wu Tang, a formula used for Blood Deficiency
Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Someone has a Deficiency of Blood when their entire body, a part of body or a particular Organ is insufficiently nourished by Blood.
This can be caused by blood-loss, a lack of of Spleen Qi (responsible to produce Blood) or congealed Blood which prevents new Blood from forming.
In addition to knee pain, other symptoms associated with Blood Deficiency include dizziness, depression and insomnia.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation or Scanty Menstruation.
Blood Deficiency is often treated with Si Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Si Wu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Restores and nourishes Blood".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney-Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to knee pain, other symptoms associated with Kidney-Deficiency include dizziness, back pain and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney-Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Scanty Menstruation.
Kidney-Deficiency is often treated with Dang Gui Di Huang Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Dong Quai - Dang Gui - as a key herb). Dang Gui Di Huang Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes Blood".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Tooth-marked, Swollen
In addition to knee pain, other symptoms associated with Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, back pain and tinnitus.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Intermenstrual Bleeding.
Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Zhen Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Zhen Wu 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 and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys".
Five herbal formulas that might help with knee pain
Dang Gui Di Huang Yin
Source date: 1640 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Blood. Tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin. Regulates the menstrual cycle.
Why might Dang Gui Di Huang Yin help with knee pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which knee pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yin Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
He Che Da Zao Wan
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies the Kidneys. Strengthens the Directing and Penetrating Vessels. Regulates the periods.
Why might He Che Da Zao Wan help with knee pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney-Deficiency' of which knee pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney-Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Scanty Menstruation.
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Kidney Yang. Strengthens the Essence.
Why might Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan help with knee pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which knee pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yang Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system).
Why might Liu Wei Di Huang Wan help with knee pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Deficiency' of which knee pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Blood Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Scanty Menstruation.
Gu Ben Zhi Beng Tang
Why might Gu Ben Zhi Beng Tang help with knee pain?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which knee pain is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Intermenstrual Bleeding.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat knee pain
Why might Achyranthes Root (Niu Xi) help with knee pain?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat knee pain and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat knee pain as a symptom (such as Dang Gui Di Huang Yin for instance).
Achyranthes Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Moves Blood and relieves pain in the raw state. Tonic to the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the bones and sinews. Reduces Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Regulates the flow of reckless Blood caused by either ascendant Liver Yang or Yin Deficient Fire.
Why might Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) help with knee pain?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat knee pain and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat knee pain as a symptom (such as Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan for instance).
Goji Berries is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with knee pain?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat knee pain as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with knee pain?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat knee pain as a symptom, like Shi Quan Da Bu Tang or He Che Da Zao Wan for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with knee pain?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat knee pain as a symptom, like Dang Gui Di Huang Yin or Er Xian Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Conditions associated with knee pain
Abnormal vaginal discharge Scanty menstruation Absence of menstruation Intermenstrual bleeding Menopausal syndrome
Other symptoms often associated with knee pain
Dizziness Back pain Tinnitus Depression Night sweats Fatigue Abdominal pain Poor appetite Frequent urination Insomnia