Golfer's Elbow - Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Golfer’s Elbow · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Arm

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in golfer’s elbow, characterized by medial epicondylitis, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the elbow meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow and tendon inflammation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Cold pain on the medial side of the elbow, stiffness, worse in cold weather |

| Associated Symptoms | Relief with warmth, limited wrist flexion, tenderness on palpation |

| Tongue and Pulse | Pale red tongue with thin white coating, floating and tense pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens obstructing the elbow collaterals |

| Etiology | Exposure to cold and damp, repetitive wrist flexion, inadequate warm-up |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| LI11 Quchi | Lateral end of the elbow crease | He-Sea point of Large Intestine meridian; regulates Qi and Blood in the upper limb |

| LI10 Shousanli | 2 cun below LI11, on the forearm | Supports LI11; treats elbow pain |

| TE5 Waiguan | 2 cun above the wrist crease, dorsal side | Unblocks the Triple Energizer meridian; treats elbow and wrist pain |

| Ashi points | Tender spots on the medial elbow | Local pain relief and meridian unblocking |

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, even method; moxibustion may be added to warm the meridians and disperse cold.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Juan Bi Tang (蠲痹汤)

Composition:

Notopterygium (Qiang Huo), Angelica pubescens (Du Huo), Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi), Gentiana (Qin Jiao), Angelica (Dang Gui), Chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng), Mulberry Twig (Sang Zhi), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Disperses Wind-Cold-Damp, warms the meridians, and relieves pain.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe cold pain | Add Fu Zi, Xi Xin to warm meridians |

| Pronounced stiffness | Add Shen Jin Cao, Tou Gu Cao to relax sinews |

| Weak grip | Add Huang Qi, Dang Shen to supplement Qi |

Western Mechanism Reference

Medial epicondylitis with tendon inflammation, cold-induced vasoconstriction, and reduced local blood flow. Wind-Cold-Damp Bi corresponds to golfer’s elbow exacerbated by cold exposure, where reduced blood flow and increased muscle tension contribute to tendon inflammation.

References

  1. Database + Textbook.

  2. WHO. (2023). Musculoskeletal pain. World Health Organization.

Explore More

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