Shoulder Stiffness

How Chinese medicine differentiates shoulder stiffness — distinct from Frozen Shoulder, Shoulder Bursitis, and Rotator Cuff Injury already covered — 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. Sudden shoulder stiffness with chest pain, or stiffness after a fall/injury, needs medical evaluation before assuming it is a simple pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for shoulder stiffness — 8 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-15	Primary local point, unblocks the channel and eases stiffness.
SP-10	Invigorates Blood and dispels stasis.
BL-17	Meeting point of Blood, moves stagnant Blood.
ST-36	Tonifies Qi and Blood, strengthens the Spleen.
SP-6	Tonifies Blood, regulates Spleen and Liver.
BL-23	Tonifies Kidney Yin, supports foundational joint moisture.
BL-18	Nourishes Liver Blood and Yin, softens the sinews.
KI-3	Yuan-source point, deeply replenishes Kidney Yin.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat, reduces swelling in the upper limb.
SP-9	Drains Dampness, lightens heavy, stiff sensation.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain in the shoulder, pain worsens at night, pain worse with pressure, irritability or mood swings.

Tongue: Dark purple body with stasis spots and distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.

Treatment principle: Move stagnant Qi and Blood to relieve the obstruction.

L.I.-15 ↓ SP-10 ↓ BL-17 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches this site's Liver-Blood stasis slide — a dark purple tongue with stasis spots is the same discoloration marker named there.

2. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, aching shoulder stiffness, worsens with exertion and fatigue, pale or sallow complexion, general weakness and fatigue, dizziness upon standing.

Tongue: Pale, may be thin or have teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak.

Treatment principle: Tonify and nourish Qi and Blood to restore the sinews' flexibility.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ L.I.-15 ⊥

Note: moxa applicable on tonifying points. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Gradual loss of shoulder flexibility, dull ache rather than sharp pain, dry eyes and blurred vision, night sweats, heat in palms/soles/chest, lower back and knee soreness.

Tongue: Red, thin body with cracks, little or no coating, dry surface. Pulse: Fine and rapid, often wiry, weak at left Chi.

Treatment principle: Nourish and restore Kidney and Liver Yin to provide deep moisture to the tendons.

BL-23 ↑ BL-18 ↑ KI-3 ↑ L.I.-15 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct match, reusing the well-established Kidney-and-Liver-Yin-deficiency slide.

4. Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels

Clinical manifestations: Shoulder feels hot and may look red, swelling that is warm to the touch, heavy, aching stiffness, pain and stiffness ease with cold compresses, worse in warm, humid weather.

Tongue: Red body, possibly slightly swollen, with yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and drain Dampness from channels.

L.I.-15 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: no moxa. No deck on this site has a Damp-Heat-in-channels Bi-syndrome category, a confirmed and recurring absence, so no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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