Hand Arthritis - Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Hand Arthritis · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Hand

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in hand arthritis, characterized by rheumatoid/osteoarthritis, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the hand joint meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow and progressive joint degeneration.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Cold pain and stiffness in the hand joints, worse in cold/damp weather |

| Associated Symptoms | Relief with warmth, limited finger movement, swelling |

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

| Pathogenesis | Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens obstructing the hand joint collaterals |

| Etiology | Exposure to cold and damp, aging, repetitive hand use |

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 |

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

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

| TE4 Yangchi | On the dorsum of the wrist, at the wrist crease | Source point of Triple Energizer meridian; treats wrist and hand pain |

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

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (独活寄生汤)

Composition:

Angelica pubescens (Du Huo), Loranthus (Sang Ji Sheng), Eucommia (Du Zhong), Achyranthes (Niu Xi), Angelica (Dang Gui), Chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), Rehmannia (Shu Di), White Peony (Bai Shao), Ginseng (Ren Shen), Poria (Fu Ling), Licorice (Gan Cao), Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng), Gentiana (Qin Jiao), Asarum (Xi Xin), Cinnamon (Rou Gui)

Action: Disperses Wind-Cold-Damp, tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens tendons and bones.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe cold pain | Add Fu Zi, Gui Zhi to warm meridians |

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

| Joint swelling | Add Fang Ji, Yi Yi Ren to drain Dampness |

Western Mechanism Reference

Rheumatoid/osteoarthritis with synovitis, cartilage degeneration, and cold-induced stiffness. Wind-Cold-Damp Bi corresponds to hand arthritis exacerbated by cold exposure, where reduced blood flow and increased joint stiffness contribute to symptom aggravation.

References

  1. Database + Textbook.

  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.