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Rotator Cuff Injury

How Chinese medicine differentiates rotator cuff injury, the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. 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. A sudden loss of the ability to lift the arm after a fall or injury needs medical/orthopedic evaluation for a full tear before acupuncture is considered.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for rotator cuff injury — 10 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-15Removes obstructions from the channel. Expels Wind and Dampness. Resolves Phlegm and dissipates nodules.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
G.B.-21Relaxes the sinews. Stimulates the descending of Qi.
BL-17Gathering (Hui) point for Blood — moves Blood.
G.B.-20Expels exterior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat, benefits the head.
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
G.B.-34Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Benefits the sinews. Removes obstruction from the channel.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, subdues rebellious Qi.
ST-38Expels Wind and Dampness. Removes obstruction from the channel.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, aching soreness; weakness worsening with exertion; general fatigue; a pale complexion; dizziness; symptoms improve with rest and gentle movement.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin, teeth marks. Pulse: Fine, weak.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and nourish Blood to restore nourishment to a weakened shoulder.
L.I.-15 ↑ ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑
Note: moxa applicable. No deck on this site combines a generic Qi and Blood deficiency pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

2. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain that doesn't move; worse at night and with cold; a dark or purplish complexion; a history of injury or chronic strain.
Tongue: Purple or dusky, possible stasis spots. Pulse: Choppy or Wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood and dispel stasis to restore circulation and strength to the shoulder.
L.I.-15 ↓ G.B.-21 ↓ BL-17 ↓
Note: no moxa. This site's \"Liver-Blood stasis\" slide is gynecological/hepatic-framed with no shoulder-injury content, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Heavy, aching weakness, as if the arm is weighted down; stiffness and pain that worsen sharply in cold, damp or windy weather; numbness; an aversion to cold, improving with warmth.
Tongue: Pale or swollen, white greasy coating. Pulse: Soft or Moderate.
Treatment principle: Dispel Wind-Cold-Damp and unblock the channel while tonifying Qi.
L.I.-15 ↓ G.B.-21 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓
Note: moxa applicable. No deck on this site has a joint/limb Wind-Cold-Damp category, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Damp-Heat in the Liver Channel

Clinical manifestations: A heavy sensation rather than sharp pain; a bitter taste; worse with alcohol and greasy foods and in hot, humid weather; genital itching or discharge may accompany it.
Tongue: Red with redder sides, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Slippery, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Drain Damp-Heat from the Liver channel to clear the heaviness and restore shoulder function.
LR-3 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓
Note: no moxa. Matches Damp-Heat in the Liver — the bitter taste and genital itching/discharge markers named in that slide are shared with this pattern's own systemic Damp-Heat picture.

5. Phlegm in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: A heavy, numb sensation; fixed, deep pain; a hard, nodular swelling around the shoulder; stubborn stiffness resisting stretching; worse with damp, cold weather and greasy foods.
Tongue: Purple with possible dark spots, white greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Choppy or Slippery.
Treatment principle: Transform Phlegm-Dampness and invigorate Blood to clear the obstruction.
ST-40 ↓ ST-38 ↓
Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a joint-specific Phlegm-in-the-channels category, so no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions
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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.