↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.
Clinical manifestations: Stabbing, fixed pain in the wrist and hand; tingling and numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers; symptoms worsen with repetitive motion and cold exposure.
Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.
Treatment principle: Move Blood, clear stasis, and relieve the pain, especially the fixed stabbing quality.
2. Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp
Clinical manifestations: Wrist pain and numbness that worsen in cold, damp weather; a cold sensation in the wrist and fingers; heaviness and stiffness especially in the mornings; relief with warmth and gentle movement.
Tongue: Pale, slightly swollen with teeth marks, white greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry and tight, or slow.
Treatment principle: Dispel Wind, Cold and Dampness from the channels and relieve the pain and stiffness.
Note: Confirmed absent again: this site's own Arthritis page leaves the identically-named pattern unlinked for the same reason.
3. Phlegm in the Channels
Clinical manifestations: A heavy, swollen sensation in the wrist and hand; fixed deep aching pain; purplish or dark discolouration around the wrist; stubborn numbness or a clumsy feeling that does not change much with rest.
Tongue: Purple with stasis spots, white greasy coating, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy, or wiry and slippery.
Treatment principle: Transform the long-standing sticky obstruction that has lodged in the carpal tunnel.
Note: Confirmed absent again: this site's own Arthritis and Ankle Stiffness pages leave the identically-named pattern unlinked for the same reason.
4. Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels
Clinical manifestations: A red, swollen wrist that feels hot; burning pain in the wrist and hand; relief with cold and worsening with warmth; a heavy aching forearm sensation; thirst; pain worse at night.
Tongue: Red, possibly slightly swollen, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery and rapid, sometimes soggy or wiry at the middle position.
Treatment principle: Repetitive friction generates Heat and Dampness that combine and lodge in the carpal tunnel.
Note: Confirmed absent again: this site's own Arthritis page leaves the identically-named pattern unlinked for the same reason.
5. Qi and Blood Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: Fatigue and general weakness, a pale complexion and lips, wrist numbness and tingling that is worse with exertion, dizziness, poor appetite, palpitations, symptoms worse with overwork and cold.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin with teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, especially in the right Guan position.
Treatment principle: Nourish the undernourished channels that lack the support needed for function.
Note: Confirmed absent again: standalone combined Qi-and-Blood-Deficiency has no matching deck slide on this site.
Clinical manifestations: Wrist numbness with a warm or burning quality that is worse at night or with fatigue; a weak grip and easily fatigued hands; sore weak lower back and knees; dizziness and tinnitus; dry eyes; night sweats.
Tongue: Red, thin with cracks, little or no coating, dry surface. Pulse: Fine, rapid, wiry, weak at the left Chi.
Treatment principle: Replenish the deep foundational moisture that lubricates the sinews and joints.