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Hand Stiffness

How Chinese medicine differentiates hand and finger stiffness into the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Wrist Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Joint Stiffness pages. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Sudden hand stiffness with weakness or numbness, or stiffness with a hot, red, swollen joint, needs prompt medical assessment.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for hand and finger stiffness — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind and releases the Exterior. Promotes the diffusing of Lung-Qi, regulates the Defensive Qi and sweating. Stops pain.
L.I.-11Clears Heat and cools Blood. Removes obstructions and Heat from the channel. Resolves Dampness.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.
The Six Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Stiffness worse in cold, damp weather, relieved by warmth; heaviness or numbness; swelling without redness; aversion to cold or wind.
Tongue: Pale, slightly swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy coat. Pulse: Wiry and tight, or slow.
Treatment principle: Expels Wind, Cold and Dampness and promotes Qi and Blood circulation to the hands.
L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓
Note: moxa is appropriate. This site's decks have no Bi-syndrome slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

2. Painful Obstruction due to Damp-Heat in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: Red, swollen, hot joints; stiffness worse with warmth, better with cold; a heavy, aching sensation; thirst; dark urine.
Tongue: Red, yellow greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.
Treatment principle: Clears Heat and dries Dampness; reduces inflammation and unblocks the channels.
L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ ST-40 ↓
Note: no moxa. This site's decks have no Bi-syndrome slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

3. Painful Obstruction with Liver-Kidney Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Deep, cold, aching stiffness; lower-back and knee weakness; worse in cold, damp weather; fatigue; a pale complexion.
Tongue: Pale, thin, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine, weak, slow.
Treatment principle: Tonifies the Liver and Kidney, warms the channels and expels residual Wind-Damp.
KI-3 ↑ BL-23 ↑ L.I.-4 ⊥ G.B.-34 ⊥
Note: moxa is appropriate.

4. Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain; a deep, stuck stiffness worse at night or at rest; purplish discoloration; a history of injury.
Tongue: Purple or dusky, stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy or wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood, dissolves stasis and unblocks the collaterals.
L.I.-4 ↓ SP-10 ↓ LIV-3 ↓
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide per the discoloration-marker rule.

5. Phlegm in the Channels and Muscles

Clinical manifestations: A heavy, numb sensation; firm (not soft) swelling; stiffness worse in cold, damp weather; white greasy tongue coating.
Tongue: Purple, stasis spots, white greasy coat, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry-choppy or wiry-slippery.
Treatment principle: Transforms Phlegm, dries Dampness, invigorates Blood and unblocks the collaterals.
ST-40 ↓ L.I.-4 ⊥
Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. This site's decks have no Phlegm-in-the-channels slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

6. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Stiffness worse after rest, improved by gentle movement; numbness or tingling; persistent fatigue; a pale or sallow complexion; dizziness; palpitations.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin or tooth-marked, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine, weak.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi, nourishes Blood, warms the channels and restores nourishment to the sinews.
ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ L.I.-4 ⊥
Note: moxa is appropriate.
Related conditions
Wrist Pain Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Joint Stiffness

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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.