Achilles Tendinitis · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a common pattern in chronic Achilles tendinitis, characterized by sharp, fixed pain that worsens at night, often with a history of overuse or repeated microtrauma. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of blood in the tendon collateral vessels, blocking the free flow of Qi and Blood, leading to pain and fibrosis.

Achilles Tendinitis · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Bi is an acute inflammatory pattern in Achilles tendinitis, characterized by burning pain, swelling, redness, and warmth. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the tendon, causing local inflammation and fluid exudation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

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Achilles Tendinitis · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic degenerative pattern in Achilles tendinitis, characterized by dull aching pain, weakness in the tendon, and aggravation with overwork. The core pathogenesis is insufficient nourishment of the tendon by Liver Blood and Kidney Essence, leading to gradual degeneration and reduced healing capacity.

Achilles Tendinitis · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in Achilles tendinitis, characterized by cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the tendon meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, leading to pain and stiffness.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Acne · Chong-Ren Disharmony Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Face/Skin

Pattern Overview

Chong-Ren Disharmony is a pattern in acne, characterized by premenstrual acne exacerbation, hormonal cycle fluctuations, relative androgen elevation, and menstrual irregularities. The core pathogenesis is Chong-Ren meridian dysfunction causing hormonal cycle disturbance, leading to premenstrual acne flare-ups.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Acne · Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Face/Skin

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Accumulation is a common pattern in acne, characterized by seborrhea with inflammation, cystic acne, oily skin, nodules, painful lesions, and pustules. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the skin, causing sebaceous gland inflammation, cystic lesion formation, and severe acne.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Acne · Lung Channel Wind-Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Face/Skin

Pattern Overview

Lung Channel Wind-Heat is a common pattern in acne, characterized by sebum overproduction with Propionibacterium acnes proliferation, inflammatory papules, pustules, itching, and erythema. The core pathogenesis is Wind-Heat in the Lung Channel ascending to the face, causing sebaceous gland inflammation and acne lesion formation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Acne · Phlegm-Dampness Congealing Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Face/Skin

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Dampness Congealing is a pattern in acne, characterized by nodular cystic acne, sebaceous gland duct hyperkeratosis, deep inflammation, fibrosis, and persistent lesions. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm-Dampness congealing in the skin, causing sebaceous gland duct hyperkeratosis, deep inflammation, and nodule formation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Allergic Rhinitis · Kidney-Yang Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Kidney-Yang Deficiency is a severe pattern in allergic rhinitis, characterized by HPA axis dysfunction, severe nasal congestion, cold intolerance, frequent urination, and generalized immune dysfunction. The core pathogenesis is Kidney-Yang deficiency failing to warm the body, leading to HPA axis dysfunction, reduced cortisol levels, and impaired immune regulation.

Allergic Rhinitis · Lung Channel Latent Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Lung Channel Latent Heat is a pattern in allergic rhinitis, characterized by perennial allergic rhinitis with acute exacerbation, nasal congestion with yellow or sticky discharge, dry throat, and nasal itching. The core pathogenesis is Latent Heat in the Lung Channel, causing chronic nasal mucosal inflammation, eosinophil infiltration, and acute exacerbations.

Allergic Rhinitis · Lung-Qi Deficiency with Cold Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Lung-Qi Deficiency with Cold is the core pattern in allergic rhinitis, characterized by IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity, nasal congestion with clear watery discharge, paroxysmal sneezing, cold sensitivity, and easy susceptibility to colds. The core pathogenesis is Lung-Qi deficiency with weakened defensive exterior, allowing Wind-Cold pathogens to invade the nasal passages, triggering mast cell degranulation and allergic symptoms.

Allergic Rhinitis · Spleen-Qi Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Head

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Qi Deficiency is a common pattern in allergic rhinitis, characterized by immune dysregulation, nasal congestion with clear discharge, fatigue, poor appetite, and loose stools. The core pathogenesis is Spleen-Qi deficiency failing to transform and transport, leading to Dampness accumulation and impaired immune defense.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Alopecia Areata · Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness is the most common pattern in alopecia areata, characterized by T-cell-mediated autoimmune attack on hair follicles, sudden hair loss, smooth bald patches, itching, and scalp dryness. The core pathogenesis is Blood deficiency with Wind-Dryness invading the hair follicles, causing immune privilege collapse and hair loss.

Alopecia Areata · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic pattern in alopecia areata, characterized by hair follicle stem cell dysfunction, Wnt/β-catenin signaling abnormality, hair follicle papilla cell apoptosis, and chronic hair loss. The core pathogenesis is Liver-Kidney deficiency failing to nourish the hair follicles, leading to stem cell dysfunction and impaired hair growth.

Alopecia Areata · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is a pattern in alopecia areata, characterized by microcirculatory disturbance, scalp pain, patchy hair loss, fixed lesions, and dark scalp color. The core pathogenesis is Qi stagnation and Blood stasis in the scalp collaterals, causing reduced hair follicle blood supply and impaired hair growth.

Alopecia Areata · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in alopecia areata, characterized by telogen effluvium or recovery phase, shortened hair growth cycle, premature entry into telogen, fatigue, and pale complexion. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood failing to nourish the hair follicles, leading to shortened hair growth cycle and premature hair loss.

Ankle Pain · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

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

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Ankle Pain · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Bi is an acute inflammatory pattern in ankle pain, characterized by swelling, redness, burning pain, and synovitis with effusion. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the ankle joint, causing local inflammation, fluid exudation, and impaired joint function.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Ankle Pain · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic degenerative pattern in ankle pain, characterized by chronic aching pain, joint degeneration, and aggravation with overwork. The core pathogenesis is insufficient nourishment of the ankle joint by Liver Blood and Kidney Essence, leading to gradual joint degeneration.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Ankle Pain · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Ankle

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic weakness pattern in ankle pain, characterized by dull aching pain, poor healing, and generalized weakness. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the ankle tissues, leading to impaired repair and chronic discomfort.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |