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Tendinitis

How Chinese medicine differentiates tendinitis into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Achilles Tendinitis, Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow 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. A sudden snap or loss of function, a hot, red, swollen tendon, or persistent pain despite rest needs a proper musculoskeletal assessment.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for tendinitis — 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.
SP-10Cools Blood. Invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis. Blood SP-10 SP-9 10 Xuehai
G.B.-34Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Resolves Damp-Heat in Liver and Gall Bladder. Benefits the sinews.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Qi and Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed stabbing pain at the tendon; pain worse with pressure; local stiffness or adhesions; irritability.
Tongue: Dark purple, stasis spots, distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.
Treatment principle: Moves Qi, invigorates Blood, unblocks the channels and relieves pain.
L.I.-4 ↓ LIV-3 ↓ SP-10 ↓
Note: no moxa. No combined Qi-and-Blood-stagnation slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.

2. Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Fixed stabbing pain that does not move; worse at night and with pressure; a palpable hard knot in the tendon.
Tongue: Purple or dusky, stasis spots, dark distended sublingual veins, thin white coat. Pulse: Choppy or wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis, unblocks the channels and relieves pain.
L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ SP-10 ↓
Note: no moxa. Linked to this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide (purple tongue with stasis spots).

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

Clinical manifestations: Red, hot, swollen tendon; burning pain worse with warmth and better with cold; heavy sensation; irritability; dark urine.
Tongue: Red, possibly swollen, yellow greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.
Treatment principle: Clears Heat, drains Dampness, unblocks the channels and relieves obstruction.
L.I.-4 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓ SP-9 ↓
Note: no moxa. This site's decks have no Bi-syndrome slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

4. Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Aching, heavy, shifting pain; worse in cold, damp, rainy weather; numbness; swelling without redness; aversion to cold.
Tongue: Pale, slightly swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy coat. Pulse: Wiry, tight and slow.
Treatment principle: Dispels Wind-Dampness, warms the channels, tonifies Qi and invigorates Blood.
L.I.-4 ↓ ST-36 ↑ G.B.-34 ↓
Note: moxa is appropriate. This site's decks have no Bi-syndrome slide, confirmed absent many times — no pattern link is given here.

5. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, lingering pain worse with exertion and better with rest; general fatigue; pale complexion; dizziness; numbness or tingling.
Tongue: Pale, thin, possibly tooth-marked, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine, weak and thready.
Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi, nourishes Blood and strengthens the Spleen.
ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ BL-20 ↑
Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Qi-and-Blood-deficiency slide exists on this site's decks — no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions
Achilles Tendinitis Tennis Elbow Golfer's Elbow

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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.