Hand Arthritis - Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Hand Arthritis · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Hand

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Bi is an acute inflammatory pattern in hand arthritis, characterized by acute synovitis, swelling, redness, and burning pain. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the hand joints, causing acute synovitis, joint effusion, and severe pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Swelling, redness, burning pain in the hand joints |

| Associated Symptoms | Local warmth, limited finger movement, tenderness |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Damp-Heat accumulating in the hand joints |

| Etiology | Acute gout attack, rheumatoid flare-up, infection |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| LI11 Quchi | Lateral end of the elbow crease | He-Sea point of Large Intestine meridian; clears Heat |

| SP9 Yinlingquan | Below the medial condyle of the tibia | Transforms Dampness and drains Heat |

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

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

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, reducing method; may combine with pricking and cupping at BA Xie to drain Damp-Heat.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Si Miao Wan (四妙丸)

Composition:

Atractylodes (Cang Zhu), Phellodendron (Huang Bai), Achyranthes (Niu Xi), Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren)

Action: Clears Damp-Heat, reduces inflammation, promotes diuresis, and relieves pain.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe redness and swelling | Add Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao to clear Heat and detoxify |

| Burning pain | Add Shi Gao, Zhi Mu to clear Heat and generate fluids |

| Joint effusion | Add Ze Xie, Che Qian Zi to promote diuresis |

Western Mechanism Reference

Acute synovitis with neutrophil infiltration, joint effusion, and elevated inflammatory cytokines. Damp-Heat Bi corresponds to acute hand arthritis, often seen in gouty arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups.

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.