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 the muscles 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 the muscles 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 the muscles is often associated with joint pain, swollen joints and stiff neck in the pattern “Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause numbness of the muscles.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of numbness of the muscles we’ve identified three 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 the muscles.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause numbness of the muscles
In Chinese Medicine numbness of the muscles is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Sichuan Aconite (Zhi Chuan Wu) is the king ingredient for Wu Tou Tang, a formula used for Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
In addition to numbness of the muscles, other symptoms associated with Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles include joint pain, swollen joints and stiff neck.
Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles is often treated with Wu Tou Tang, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Sichuan Aconite - Zhi Chuan Wu - as a key herb). Wu Tou Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the meridians and disperse cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the channels and remove obstruaction".
Read more about Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles here
Peach Kernels (Tao Ren) is the king ingredient for Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang, a formula used for Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian)
The bone deformities that occur in chronic rheumatoid arthritis are seen as a form of Phlegm.
In addition to numbness of the muscles, other symptoms associated with Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles include numbness in the limbs, stifling sensation in the chest and bone deformities.
Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles is often treated with Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula made of 12 herbs (including Peach Kernels - Tao Ren - as a key herb). Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that regulate blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Invigorates Blood".
Read more about Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles here
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 the muscles, 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
Three herbal formulas that might help with numbness of the muscles
Wu Tou Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Warms the channels and remove obstruaction. Disperse Cold and Dampness. Warms the joints. Relieve joints pain.
Why might Wu Tou Tang help with numbness of the muscles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles' of which numbness of the muscles is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Cold Invading The Channels Joints And Muscles include joint pain, swollen joints and stiff neck.
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Source date: 1830
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates Blood. Unblocks painful obstruction. Relieves pain. Invigorate Qi. Dispels Blood Stagnation. Unblock Channels.
Why might Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang help with numbness of the muscles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles' of which numbness of the muscles is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm In The Channels Joints And Muscles include numbness in the limbs, stifling sensation in the chest and bone deformities.
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 the muscles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles' of which numbness of the muscles is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Dampness Invading The Channels Joints And Muscles include joint pain and swollen joints.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat numbness of the muscles
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with numbness of the muscles?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat numbness of the muscles as a symptom, like Wu Tou Tang or Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
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 Szechuan Lovage Root (Chuan Xiong) help with numbness of the muscles?
Because it is a key herb in Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Phlegm in the Channels joints and muscles' (a pattern with numbness of the muscles as a symptom)
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 Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with numbness of the muscles?
Because it is a key herb in Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles' (a pattern with numbness of the muscles as a symptom)
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 Prepared Sichuan Aconite (Zhi Chuan Wu) help with numbness of the muscles?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Tou Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles' (a pattern with numbness of the muscles as a symptom)
Prepared Sichuan Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Dispels Wind and Dampness. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold
Why might Ephedra (Ma Huang) help with numbness of the muscles?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Tou Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles' (a pattern with numbness of the muscles as a symptom)
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.
Other symptoms often associated with numbness of the muscles
Joint pain Swollen joints Stiff neck Numbness in the limbs Stifling sensation in the chest Bone deformities Muscle pain