Myofascial Pain Syndrome · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in myofascial pain syndrome, characterized by chronic fatigue with pain, weakness, and poor recovery. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the muscles, leading to muscle weakness, chronic pain, and impaired recovery.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Myofascial Pain Syndrome · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in myofascial pain syndrome, characterized by trigger points with cold sensitivity, muscle pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the muscle meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, formation of trigger points, and muscle pain.

Neck Pain · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Neck

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic degenerative pattern in neck pain, characterized by degenerative changes, chronic ache, weakness, and aggravation with overwork. The core pathogenesis is insufficient nourishment of the cervical spine by Liver Blood and Kidney Essence, leading to disc degeneration, ligament laxity, and chronic pain.

Neck Pain · Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Neck

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction is a pattern in neck pain, characterized by dizziness and heaviness, neck heaviness, nausea, and chest tightness. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Phlegm-Dampness in the neck meridians, obstructing the clear yang from ascending and causing dizziness and vertigo.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Neck Pain · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Neck

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is a common pattern in neck pain, characterized by whiplash or chronic strain, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation at night. The core pathogenesis is stagnation of Qi and Blood in the neck collaterals following injury or chronic strain, leading to pain, swelling, and impaired healing.

Neck Pain · Qi-Blood Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Neck

Pattern Overview

Qi-Blood Deficiency is a chronic pattern in neck pain, characterized by chronic dizziness with neck pain, dull pain, fatigue, and poor concentration. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Qi and Blood to nourish the cervical spine and brain, leading to chronic pain, dizziness, and fatigue.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Neck Pain · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Neck

Pattern Overview

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi is a common pattern in neck pain, characterized by muscle tension and spasm, cold pain, stiffness, and aggravation in cold weather. The core pathogenesis is invasion of Wind-Cold-Damp pathogens into the neck meridians, causing obstruction of Qi and Blood flow, muscle spasm, and pain.

Obesity · Liver-Qi Stagnation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Liver-Qi Stagnation is a common pattern in obesity, characterized by chronic stress-induced cortisol elevation, visceral fat accumulation, emotional eating, and abdominal obesity. The core pathogenesis is chronic stress causing Liver Qi stagnation, leading to cortisol elevation, visceral fat accumulation, and metabolic dysfunction.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Obesity · Spleen Deficiency with Phlegm-Dampness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Spleen Deficiency with Phlegm-Dampness is a common pattern in obesity, characterized by lipid metabolism disorder, abdominal obesity, fatigue, heavy sensation, and loose stools. The core pathogenesis is Spleen deficiency failing to transform and transport, leading to Phlegm-Dampness accumulation, fat deposition, and insulin resistance.

Obesity · Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency is a pattern in obesity, characterized by reduced basal metabolic rate, hypothyroidism tendency, cold intolerance, weight gain, and fatigue. The core pathogenesis is Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency failing to warm and transform, leading to decreased energy expenditure and increased fat storage.

Obesity · Stomach Heat with Dampness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Stomach Heat with Dampness is a common pattern in obesity, characterized by leptin resistance, excessive appetite, abdominal obesity, constipation, and thirst. The core pathogenesis is Stomach Heat consuming fluids, leading to excessive appetite, increased fat synthesis, and metabolic dysfunction.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Obesity · Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Whole Body

Pattern Overview

Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat is a pattern in obesity, characterized by sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, leptin resistance, weight gain, irritability, and night sweats. The core pathogenesis is Yin deficiency failing to control Yang, leading to internal Heat, sympathetic activation, and metabolic dysregulation.

Patellar Tendinitis · Damp-Heat Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

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

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

Patellar Tendinitis · Liver-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Liver-Kidney Deficiency is a chronic degenerative pattern in patellar tendinitis, characterized by chronic tendinopathy, ache, weakness, and aggravation with overwork. The core pathogenesis is insufficient nourishment of the patellar tendon by Liver Blood and Kidney Essence, leading to collagen fiber degeneration, reduced elasticity, and chronic pain.

Patellar Tendinitis · Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis is the core pattern in patellar tendinitis, characterized by jumper’s knee, sharp fixed pain, and aggravation with jumping. The core pathogenesis is repeated jumping or overuse causing Qi stagnation and Blood stasis in the patellar tendon, leading to tendon microtearing, inflammation, and persistent pain.

Patellar Tendinitis · Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 6 min

Body Area: Knee

Pattern Overview

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

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

PCOS · Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Kidney Deficiency is the fundamental pattern in PCOS, characterized by HPO axis dysfunction, anovulation, low ovarian reserve, irregular menstruation, and infertility. The core pathogenesis is Kidney deficiency failing to govern reproduction, leading to HPO axis dysfunction, impaired follicular development, and anovulation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

PCOS · Liver Depression Transforming into Fire Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Liver Depression Transforming into Fire is a common pattern in PCOS, characterized by elevated LH/FSH ratio, ovarian androgen excess, irritability, acne, hirsutism, and emotional symptoms. The core pathogenesis is chronic stress causing Liver Qi stagnation transforming into Fire, leading to elevated LH/FSH ratio, ovarian androgen excess, and hyperandrogenism.

PCOS · Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction is the most common pattern in PCOS, characterized by insulin resistance, obesity, anovulation, amenorrhea, and lipid metabolism disorder. The core pathogenesis is Spleen deficiency causing Phlegm-Dampness accumulation, leading to insulin resistance, elevated androgen production, and chronic anovulation.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

PCOS · Spleen Deficiency with Phlegm-Dampness Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Pelvis

Pattern Overview

Spleen Deficiency with Phlegm-Dampness is a common pattern in PCOS with metabolic syndrome, characterized by insulin resistance, obesity, anovulation, fatigue, and glucose and lipid metabolism disorder. The core pathogenesis is Spleen deficiency with Phlegm-Dampness accumulation, leading to insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and chronic anovulation.