Shoulder Bursitis

How Chinese medicine differentiates shoulder bursitis, the four 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 hot, rapidly-swelling shoulder with fever needs medical evaluation to rule out septic bursitis before acupuncture is considered.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for shoulder bursitis — 11 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-15	Removes obstructions from the channel. Expels Wind and Dampness. Resolves Phlegm and dissipates nodules.
T.B.-14	Removes obstructions from the channel.
S.I.-9	Removes obstructions from the channel.
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
Du-14	Clears Heat. Releases the Exterior and expels exterior Wind.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat, resolves Dampness, cools Blood.
BL-23	Tonifies Kidney-Yang.
BL-18	Nourishes Liver-Blood. Moves Liver-Qi. Benefits the sinews.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Sharp, stabbing pain in a fixed spot on the shoulder that worsens at night and with pressure; often follows injury or chronic overuse.

Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots. Pulse: Wiry, Choppy.

Treatment principle: Move Qi and Blood to unblock the channel and stop the fixed shoulder pain.

L.I.-15 ↓ T.B.-14 ↓ S.I.-9 ↓ SP-10 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓

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.

2. Painful Obstruction with Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, non-sharp aching; fatigue and weakness; numbness or tingling; worsens with exertion or by day's end.

Tongue: Pale, possibly thin, teeth marks. Pulse: Fine, weak, possibly Slow.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and Blood while warming the channels to nourish the sinews.

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.

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

Clinical manifestations: The shoulder joint is red, swollen and hot to the touch; heavy aching, aggravated by warmth and relieved by cold; a fever sensation; thirst for cold drinks.

Tongue: Red, possibly swollen, yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and drain Dampness to unblock the channel around the inflamed bursa.

L.I.-15 ↓ T.B.-14 ↓ Du-14 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a joint/limb Painful Obstruction category, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Painful Obstruction with Liver and Kidney Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Chronic dull aching that comes and goes; lower back and knee soreness; worsens in cold, damp weather; stiffness and limited movement.

Tongue: Pale, thin, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, weak, Slow, deep at the rear (Kidney) position.

Treatment principle: Tonify the Liver and Kidneys while dispelling Wind-Dampness, addressing the underlying weakness behind a chronic, recurring bursitis.

BL-23 ↑ BL-18 ↑ L.I.-15 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. This site's closest candidate, \"Kidney-Essence deficiency,\" is framed around bone development, hair and memory rather than a joint-specific Bi-syndrome picture, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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