Knee Pain - Blood Stasis Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Knee Pain · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a common pattern in knee pain, characterized by ligament injury, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of blood in the knee collaterals following injury or overuse, leading to pain, swelling, and impaired healing.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

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

| Associated Symptoms | Swelling, bruising, limited knee movement, tenderness |

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

| Pathogenesis | Blood stasis obstructing the knee collaterals |

| Etiology | Knee injury, ligament sprain, sports trauma |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| ST35 Dubi | In the two hollows beside the patella | Local points that reduce knee pain and swelling |

| BL40 Weizhong | Midpoint of the popliteal crease (behind the knee) | He-Sea point of Bladder meridian; treats back and knee pain |

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

| Ashi points | Tender spots around the knee | 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 |

| :— | :— |

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

| Swelling | Add Dan Shen, Chi Shao to improve microcirculation |

| Weakness | Add Huang Qi, Dang Shen to supplement Qi |

Western Mechanism Reference

Ligament injury with microcirculatory disturbance, local hematoma, and inflammatory response. Blood Stasis corresponds to knee ligament injuries, where soft tissue damage and localized bleeding cause inflammation and pain.

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 knee pain relief.

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