Numbness of skin according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Numbness of skin 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 numbness of skin 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 numbness of skin is often associated with joint pain and swollen joints in the pattern “Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause numbness of skin.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of numbness of skin 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 numbness of skin.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause numbness of skin
In Chinese Medicine numbness of skin is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Dong Quai (Dang Gui) is the king ingredient for Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, a formula used for Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Soggy (Ru)
In addition to numbness of skin, other symptoms associated with Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles include joint pain and swollen joints.
Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles is often treated with Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, a herbal formula made of 16 herbs (including Dong Quai - Dang Gui - as a key herb). Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that invigorate blood and dispel blood stagnation", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Expels Wind Damp from the Channels".
Read more about Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles here
Ginseng (Ren Shen) is the king ingredient for Gui Pi Tang, a formula used for Qi and Blood Deficiency
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Slowed-down (Huan), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
In addition to numbness of skin, other symptoms associated with Qi and Blood Deficiency include dream disturbed sleep, spontaneous sweating and listlessness.
Qi and Blood Deficiency is often treated with Gui Pi Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Gui Pi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi and blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood".
Five herbal formulas that might help with numbness of skin
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang
Source date: 1587 AD
Number of ingredients: 16 herbs
Key actions: Expels Wind Damp from the Channels. Invigorates Blood. Unblocks the channels.
Why might Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang help with numbness of skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles' of which numbness in the skin is a symptom.
Xiao Huo Luo Dan
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Dispels Wind. Eliminates Dampness and transforms Phlegm . Invigorates the Blood. Removes Stagnation and relieves pain.
Why might Xiao Huo Luo Dan help with numbness of skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles' of which numbness in the skin is a symptom.
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with numbness of skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi and Blood Deficiency' of which numbness in the skin is a symptom.
Ba Zhen Tang
Source date: 1326 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and augments Qi. Tonifies and augments Blood.
Why might Ba Zhen Tang help with numbness of skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi and Blood Deficiency' of which numbness in the skin is a symptom.
Guo Qi Yin
Source date: 1602 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Warms the menses. Dispels blood Stagnation. Nourishes the blood .
Why might Guo Qi Yin help with numbness of skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Qi and Blood Deficiency' of which numbness in the skin is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat numbness of skin
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with numbness of skin?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat numbness of skin as a symptom, like Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang or Guo Qi Yin for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
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.
Why might Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with numbness of skin?
Because Szechuan Lovage Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat numbness of skin as a symptom, like Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang or Guo Qi Yin for instance.
Szechuan Lovage Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver and the Pericardium.
Its main actions are: Regulates and moves the Blood. Relieves Wind-Cold and pain. Circulates the Qi in the Upper Burner, relieving headaches.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with numbness of skin?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat numbness of skin as a symptom, like Ba Zhen Tang or Guo Qi Yin 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 Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with numbness of skin?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat numbness of skin as a symptom, like Gui Pi Tang or Ba Zhen Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with numbness of skin?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat numbness of skin as a symptom, like Ba Zhen Tang or Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Other symptoms often associated with numbness of skin
Spasms Convulsions Rheumatism Limbs paralysis Tetanus Leprosy Rubella Scabies Urticaria Joint pain