In my outpatient experience, I have met many patients whose quality of life is affected by frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is not only a common disease among middle-aged and elderly people, but also gradually increasing among young people, especially office workers who often use computers and mobile phones. This disease not only causes shoulder pain, but also limited mobility, which seriously affects the patient's daily life and work efficiency.
I remember one time, a middle school teacher in his 40s came to me with severe shoulder pain. His symptoms had been going on for months, and at first he thought it was just a normal sore shoulder, and he didn't pay much attention to it. Later, the pain gradually worsened, and it became a problem to turn over overnight, and then I realized the seriousness of the situation. After taking a detailed medical history, I found that his job required maintaining a position for long periods of time and little time for proper physical exercise. Based on his specific situation, I decided to use TCM treatments, combining acupressure, Chinese herbal compresses and proper massage stretching, to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for him.
After a period of treatment, the teacher's symptoms were significantly relieved. He told me that not only the shoulder pain has been reduced, but the associated headache and neck discomfort have also improved.
Learn about frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also known as rotator cuffitis or frozen shoulder, is a common shoulder condition that affects many people's daily activities. It presents primarily with shoulder pain and limited range of motion, especially when the arm is elevated or extended backwards. This not only causes inconvenience to the individual's work life, but may also affect the quality of sleep, especially when the patient is lying on the affected side.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of frozen shoulder include:
Pain: Pain is usually only with activity at first, but may gradually progress to pain at rest.
Stiffness: The shoulder joint is significantly stiff, making it difficult for the patient to perform movements such as combing hair and dressing.
Limitation of movement: especially when moving your arms above your head or behind your back.
Common causes
Causes of frozen shoulder may include:
Age factor: It is more common in people over the age of 40, especially women.
Overuse: Occupations that often require repetitive shoulder movements, such as painters and construction workers, are more likely to suffer from this condition.
Shoulder injury: People who have had a history of shoulder injuries may develop frozen shoulder after recovery.
Other health problems: Patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease also have higher incidences.
The basic principles of TCM in the treatment of frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, which is common in middle-aged and elderly people, is called "shoulder paralysis" in traditional Chinese medicine, and is believed to be mainly caused by poor qi and blood and rheumatic invasion. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, shoulder health is directly related to the functions of the lungs, liver and kidneys, especially the excretion function of the liver and the nourishing function of the kidneys.
The key to the smooth flow of qi and blood is to reconcile
In the view of traditional Chinese medicine, the formation of frozen shoulder is often due to the poor flow of qi and blood, resulting in the loss of nourishment of the shoulder tendons and veins, and then produce symptoms such as pain and stiffness. During treatment, the first task is to reconcile the qi and blood so that they can flow unimpeded. Through herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, etc., it can effectively promote local blood circulation and relieve muscle tension and shoulder pain.
Unblock the meridians and release blockages
Another TCM treatment for frozen shoulder is to unblock blocked meridians. A meridian is a type of channel described in Chinese medicine that runs through the human body and is responsible for transporting qi and blood and regulating body functions. Patients with frozen shoulder often have local meridian blockage, which can lead to poor flow of qi and blood. Acupressure and acupuncture can stimulate the relevant acupuncture points to help relieve blockages in the meridians, thereby relieving pain and restoring normal motor function of the shoulder joint.
Adjust the function of the viscera and restore balance
TCM treatment also focuses on the adjustment of internal organ function. For example, if the liver's excretory function is insufficient, it may lead to poor qi and blood flow in certain parts of the body, and in addition to directly dealing with shoulder symptoms, it is necessary to improve the excretion effect by adjusting the liver function. The health of the kidneys is also very important, because the kidneys store essence, essence and marrow, and pass through the bones, and strong bones lead to healthy muscles and bones. Traditional Chinese medicines such as mulberry parasitism and eucommia can be used to nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen muscles and bones, and fundamentally improve shoulder health.
Practical TCM methods
In TCM theory, frozen shoulder is regarded as a disease caused by factors such as poor qi and blood, rheumatic invasion, etc. Therefore, the key to treatment is to dredge the meridians and reconcile qi and blood. Below I will introduce a few practical methods of Chinese medicine to help relieve frozen shoulder.
Acupressure
Traditional Chinese medicine uses acupressure to regulate the flow of qi and blood in the body, reducing pain and stiffness. For frozen shoulder, the following acupuncture points are particularly effective:
Shoulder Well Point: Located at the highest point of the shoulder, it is a key acupuncture point for relieving shoulder pain. Use your thumb to press on this acupoint and gently rotate and massage for 5 minutes, twice daily.
Scapular point: Located at the lower edge of the scapula, it is effective in relieving pain and stiffness in the scapular area. The massage method is the same as the shoulder well point.
Column Deficiency Acupoint: Located on the back of the wrist, massage this acupoint helps the circulation of qi and blood throughout the arm, especially for shoulder and arm pain.
A little massage oil or warm ginger juice can be used during the massage to increase the massage effect and promote the circulation of qi and blood.
Traditional Chinese medicine dressing
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a method of achieving deep treatment through external application. Chinese herbal dressings suitable for frozen shoulder usually include the following herbs:
Chuanxiong and safflower: invigorate blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis, relieve shoulder pain.
Peppermint, ginger: dissipates cold and relieves pain, suitable for shoulder pain caused by cold and dampness.
Grind the above herbs into powder, add an appropriate amount of vinegar or ginger juice to make a paste, apply it to the shoulder, once a day, and keep it for 1-2 hours each time.
Tuina and stretching
Proper manipulation and stretching can help restore range of motion to the shoulder joint and reduce pain. Here are some simple ways to do it:
Tuina: Use the palm of the hand to push from the center of the shoulder to the outside to promote local blood circulation.
Stretching: Try raising the affected arm above your head and gently leaning to the opposite side, holding this position for 20 seconds, three times a day.