Frozen Shoulder · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Shoulder

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is the core pattern in frozen shoulder, characterized by adhesive capsulitis, sharp fixed pain, severe limited movement, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of Qi and Blood in the shoulder collaterals, leading to capsular fibrosis, adhesion formation, and progressive restriction of movement.

Frozen Shoulder · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Shoulder

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in frozen shoulder, characterized by chronic stage with weakness, dull pain, muscle atrophy, and fatigue. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the shoulder muscles and tendons, leading to muscle atrophy, weakness, and impaired recovery.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Frozen Shoulder · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Shoulder

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in frozen shoulder, characterized by capsular inflammation and fibrosis, cold pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the shoulder meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, synovitis, and capsular fibrosis.

Functional Dyspepsia · Liver-Stomach Disharmony Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Liver-Stomach Disharmony is the most common pattern in functional dyspepsia, characterized by gastric accommodation impairment with stress, epigastric pain, bloating, belching, nausea, and aggravation with stress. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver-Qi stagnation invading the Stomach, leading to autonomic dysfunction, impaired gastric relaxation, and dyspeptic symptoms.

Functional Dyspepsia · Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Stomach Deficiency is a common pattern in functional dyspepsia, characterized by delayed gastric emptying with weak motility, early satiety, bloating, fatigue, poor appetite, and loose stools. The core pathogenesis is Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency failing to transform and transport, leading to delayed gastric emptying, reduced antral contractility, and impaired gastric accommodation.

Functional Dyspepsia · Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold is a chronic pattern in functional dyspepsia, characterized by cold-induced epigastric pain with hypomotility, cold pain, relief with warmth, poor appetite, and cold limbs. The core pathogenesis is Spleen-Stomach Yang deficiency with Cold, leading to reduced gastric mucosal blood flow, impaired gastric accommodation, and cold-induced pain.

Functional Dyspepsia · Stomach-Yin Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Stomach-Yin Deficiency is a chronic pattern in functional dyspepsia, characterized by impaired gastric secretion with mucosal atrophy, epigastric discomfort, dry mouth, poor appetite, constipation, and thirst. The core pathogenesis is Stomach-Yin deficiency failing to moisten the Stomach, leading to impaired gastric secretion, mucosal atrophy, and reduced digestive function.

GERD/Acid Reflux · Liver-Stomach Disharmony Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest/Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Liver-Stomach Disharmony is the most common pattern in GERD/acid reflux, characterized by stress-induced LES dysfunction, heartburn, acid reflux, chest tightness, and epigastric pain. The core pathogenesis is emotional stress causing Liver Qi stagnation, which overacts on the Stomach, leading to rebellious Stomach Qi and acid reflux.

GERD/Acid Reflux · Phlegm-Qi Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest/Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Qi Obstruction is a pattern in GERD/acid reflux, characterized by esophageal motility dysfunction, globus sensation (lump in the throat), acid reflux, and chest tightness. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm and Qi obstructing the throat and chest, causing esophageal motility dysfunction and hypersensitivity.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

GERD/Acid Reflux · Spleen-Stomach Deficiency with Cold Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest/Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Stomach Deficiency with Cold is a common pattern in GERD/acid reflux, characterized by decreased GI motility, acid reflux, cold epigastric pain, poor appetite, and loose stools. The core pathogenesis is Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency failing to warm and transform food, leading to delayed gastric emptying and acid reflux.

GERD/Acid Reflux · Stomach-Yin Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest/Abdomen

Pattern Overview

Stomach-Yin Deficiency is a chronic pattern in GERD/acid reflux, characterized by gastric mucosal atrophy, heartburn, dry mouth, poor appetite, and chronic epigastric discomfort. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Stomach-Yin failing to moisten and protect the gastric mucosa, leading to mucosal atrophy and impaired repair.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Golfer’s Elbow · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Arm

Pattern Overview

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

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Golfer’s Elbow · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Arm

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is a common pattern in golfer’s elbow, characterized by overuse injury, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of Qi and Blood in the elbow collaterals from repetitive overuse, leading to tendon microtearing, inflammation, and persistent pain.

Golfer’s Elbow · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Arm

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in golfer’s elbow, characterized by chronic tendinopathy, dull pain, weakness, and poor recovery. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the elbow tendons, leading to chronic degeneration, weakness, and impaired healing.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Golfer’s Elbow · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Arm

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in golfer’s elbow, characterized by medial epicondylitis, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the elbow meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow and tendon inflammation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Gout · Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Joints

Pattern Overview

Blood Stasis is a chronic pattern in gout, characterized by chronic urate deposition, tophi formation, joint deformity, sharp fixed pain, and nodule formation. The core pathogenesis is prolonged illness causing blood stasis in the joints, leading to tophi formation, periarticular fibrosis, and joint destruction.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Gout · Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Joints

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Accumulation is the most common pattern in acute gout, characterized by urate crystal deposition, acute joint inflammation, redness, swelling, burning pain, and fever. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the joints, causing acute inflammatory response and severe pain.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Gout · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Joints

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is an advanced chronic pattern in gout, characterized by chronic gout with joint erosion, progressive renal dysfunction, joint deformity, weakness, and soreness. The core pathogenesis is prolonged illness consuming Liver and Kidney, leading to joint destruction, renal impairment, and functional decline.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Gout · Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Joints

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction is a common pattern in gout, characterized by high purine diet, hyperuricemia, urate crystal deposition, swelling, heavy sensation, and nodule formation. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Phlegm-Dampness in the joints, leading to purine metabolism disorder and urate crystal deposition.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Gout · Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Joints

Pattern Overview

Spleen Deficiency with Dampness is a chronic pattern in gout, characterized by impaired renal uric acid excretion, hyperuricemia, fatigue, edema, and obesity. The core pathogenesis is Spleen deficiency failing to transform and transport, leading to Dampness accumulation, impaired uric acid excretion, and hyperuricemia.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |