Sciatica · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Leg

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is the core pattern during the acute phase of sciatica, characterized by sharp radiating leg pain, nerve root compression, limited movement, and aggravation with coughing or straining. The core pathogenesis is herniated disc or piriformis muscle compression causing Qi stagnation and Blood stasis along the sciatic nerve pathway, leading to severe pain and impaired function.

Sciatica · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Leg

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in sciatica, characterized by cold pain in the leg, aggravated by cold weather, heavy sensation, numbness, and relief with warmth. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the leg meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, nerve root ischemia, and muscle spasm.

Shin Splints · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Leg

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Bi is an acute inflammatory pattern in shin splints, characterized by acute inflammation, swelling, redness, and burning pain. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the shin, causing acute inflammation, edema, and severe pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Shin Splints · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Leg

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is a common pattern in shin splints, characterized by stress reaction injury, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation after exercise. The core pathogenesis is overuse causing Qi stagnation and Blood stasis in the shin collaterals, leading to localized inflammation, periosteal stress, and pain.

Shin Splints · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Leg

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in shin splints, characterized by overuse with weakness, dull pain, fatigue, and poor recovery. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the shin muscles and periosteum, leading to weakness, chronic pain, and impaired recovery.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Shin Splints · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Leg

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in shin splints, characterized by periostitis, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the shin meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, periosteal inflammation, and pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Sinus Headache · Gallbladder Channel Damp-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Gallbladder Channel Damp-Heat is a severe pattern in sinus headache, characterized by acute bacterial sinusitis, severe headache, purulent nasal discharge (yellow-green), bitter taste, and irritability. The core pathogenesis is Gallbladder Channel Damp-Heat ascending along the channel, causing heat-toxin accumulation in the sinuses, pus formation, and severe headache.

Sinus Headache · Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Spleen Deficiency with Dampness is a chronic pattern in sinus headache, characterized by chronic sinusitis mucosal edema, heavy head sensation, fatigue, poor appetite, and nasal congestion with sticky discharge. The core pathogenesis is Spleen deficiency causing Dampness accumulation, leading to mucosal edema, impaired mucociliary clearance, and chronic sinusitis.

Sinus Headache · Wind-Cold Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold is a common pattern in sinus headache, characterized by acute sinus mucosal congestion and edema, headache radiating to the nose, nasal congestion with clear discharge, sneezing, and chills. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold pathogens into the nasal passages, causing Lung Qi to fail to disperse, nasal congestion, and headache.

Sinus Headache · Wind-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Wind-Heat is a common pattern in sinus headache, characterized by acute sinus mucosal inflammation, headache radiating to the nose, yellow nasal discharge, fever, and sore throat. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Heat pathogens into the nasal passages, causing Lung Qi to fail to clear, nasal mucosal inflammation, and headache.

Tension Headache · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a chronic pattern in tension headache, characterized by chronic pain-induced central sensitization, fixed headache, worsened at night, and dull complexion. The core pathogenesis is Blood stasis in the head collaterals, leading to cerebral blood flow abnormalities, central sensitization, and persistent headache.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Tension Headache · Liver-Qi Stagnation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Liver-Qi Stagnation is the most common pattern in tension headache, characterized by sustained pericranial muscle contraction, central sensitization, headache worsened by stress, chest tightness, and frequent sighing. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver-Qi stagnation, leading to muscle tension, central sensitization, and headache.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Tension Headache · Phlegm-Turbidity Obscuring the Orifices Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Turbidity Obscuring the Orifices is a pattern in tension headache, characterized by heavy head sensation, cervical proprioceptive abnormalities, vestibular dysfunction, nausea, and chest tightness. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm-Turbidity accumulating in the head, causing cervical proprioceptive abnormalities, vestibular dysfunction, and headache.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Tension Headache · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in tension headache, characterized by chronic fatigue with hyperalgesia, reduced cerebral perfusion, low 5-HT function, and decreased pain modulation. The core pathogenesis is Qi-Blood deficiency failing to nourish the head, leading to reduced cerebral perfusion, hyperalgesia, and chronic headache.

TMJ Pain · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a chronic pattern in TMJ pain, characterized by disc displacement or degeneration, fibrin deposition in the joint cavity, synovial microcirculatory disturbance, fixed pain, and limited movement. The core pathogenesis is Blood stasis in the TMJ collaterals, causing synovial microcirculatory disturbance, fibrin deposition, and chronic pain.

TMJ Pain · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic degenerative pattern in TMJ pain, characterized by joint degeneration, condylar cartilage degeneration, disc collagen fiber degradation, chronic ache, and weakness. The core pathogenesis is Liver-Kidney deficiency failing to nourish the TMJ, leading to condylar cartilage degeneration, disc degradation, and chronic pain.

TMJ Pain · Liver-Qi Stagnation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Liver-Qi Stagnation is a common pattern in TMJ pain, characterized by stress-induced masticatory muscle hyperactivity, jaw pain, clicking, bruxism, irritability, and sleep disturbance. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver-Qi stagnation, leading to masticatory muscle hyperactivity, bruxism, and TMJ dysfunction.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

TMJ Pain · Wind-Cold Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold is a common pattern in TMJ pain, characterized by cold-induced joint capsule and masticatory muscle contraction, jaw pain, stiffness, clicking, limited mouth opening, and aggravation by cold. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold pathogens into the facial meridians, causing Qi-Blood stagnation, muscle spasm, and joint dysfunction.

Toothache · Wind-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Wind-Heat is a pattern in toothache, characterized by acute gingival inflammation, tooth pain, gum redness, fever, and sore throat. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Heat pathogens into the Stomach meridian, causing gingival inflammation, increased vascular permeability, and tooth pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Trigeminal Neuralgia · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a common pattern in trigeminal neuralgia, characterized by nerve demyelination with vascular compression, fixed stabbing pain, worse at night, and dull complexion. The core pathogenesis is Blood stasis in the facial collaterals, causing nerve ischemia, hypoxia, and persistent pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |