Hand Arthritis - Blood Stasis Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Hand Arthritis · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Hand

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a chronic pattern in hand arthritis, characterized by joint deformity, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is prolonged stasis of blood in the hand joint collaterals, leading to joint deformity, chronic inflammation, and persistent pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Sharp, stabbing pain in the hand joints, fixed location, worse at night |

| Associated Symptoms | Joint deformity, swelling, limited movement, tenderness |

| Tongue and Pulse | Purple-dark tongue with petechiae, thin white coating, hesitant pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Blood stasis with fibrosis obstructing the joint collaterals |

| Etiology | Chronic arthritis, repeated trauma, prolonged inflammation |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| LI5 Yangxi | On the wrist crease, radial side | Source point of Large Intestine meridian; treats wrist and hand pain |

| SP10 Xuehai | On the medial thigh, 2 cun above the patella | Invigorates blood and resolves stasis |

| BA Xie (Eight Evils) | Between the fingers, at the web margins | Local points; treats finger joint pain and stiffness |

| Ashi points | Tender spots around the hand joints | Local blood invigoration and pain relief |

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, reducing method; cupping or pricking at Ashi points may be used to enhance blood stasis resolution.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (桃红四物汤)

Composition:

Peach Kernel (Tao Ren), Safflower (Hong Hua), Angelica (Dang Gui), Chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), Red Peony (Chi Shao), Rehmannia (Sheng Di)

Action: Invigorates blood, resolves stasis, nourishes blood, and relieves pain.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Chronic joint deformity | Add San Leng, E Zhu to break up stasis |

| Severe pain | Add Ru Xiang, Mo Yao to relieve pain |

| Swelling | Add Dan Shen, Ji Xue Teng to improve microcirculation |

Western Mechanism Reference

Joint deformity with microcirculatory disturbance, fibrosis, and impaired tissue repair. Blood Stasis corresponds to chronic hand arthritis with significant joint damage, where chronic inflammation and impaired microcirculation lead to progressive joint destruction.

References

  1. Textbook Standard.

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

Explore More

  • Find your solution at MendGod.com – Personalized herbal protocols and acupressure tools for hand pain relief.

  • Deepen your knowledge at TcmCIO.com – Full research papers and clinical case studies on TCM arthritis health.