ARMS

ARMS

Chapter contents

PAIN IN THE ELBOW

Red dorsum of the hands

Pain in the hands

Numbness/tingling of the hands

Tremor of the hands

Oedema of the hands

Deformed knuckles

Tinea (ringworm)

Dry, cracked and peeling palms

Venules on the thenar eminence

Atrophy of the thenar eminence

Atrophy of the muscles of the dorsum of the hands

Swollen fingers

Contraction of the fingers

Spoon-shaped fingers

Thin, pointed fingers

Cracked fingers

Thickened fingers

Shrivelled and wrinkled fingers

Thickening of the nails

Coarse and thick nails

Nails falling off

Thin and brittle nails

Withered and brittle nails

Withered and thickened nails

Nails with white spots

Pale-white nails

Dull-white nails

Bluish-greenish nails

Small or absent lunulae

PAIN IN THE ELBOW

Interrogation, Chapter 39

Invasion of Cold

Unilateral, severe pain in the elbow that is aggravated by exposure to cold and alleviated by the application of heat.

Invasion of Cold-Dampness

Unilateral pain in the elbow that is aggravated by exposure to cold and dampness and alleviated by the application of heat, swelling of the joint, a feeling of heaviness and numbness of the affected arm.

Stagnation of Qi and stasis of Blood

Unilateral pain in the elbow that is aggravated by rest and slightly ameliorated by movement. This is usually due to repetitive strain injury.

Damp-Heat

Pain in the elbow with swelling, redness and heat of the joint, a feeling of heaviness and numbness of the affected arm.

HANDS

Cold hands

Interrogation, Chapter 39

Heart-Yang deficiency

Cold hands, sweaty hands, palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, tiredness, spontaneous sweating, a slight feeling of discomfort or stuffiness in the heart region, a feeling of cold, bright-pale face, slightly dark lips, Pale tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Lung-Yang deficiency

Cold hands, sweaty hands, slight shortness of breath, slight cough with profuse watery sputum, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, bright-white complexion, tendency to catch colds, tiredness, dislike of cold, a feeling of cold generally or of the upper back, absence of thirst, Pale and slightly wet tongue, Weak pulse.

Heart-Blood deficiency

Cold hands, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, tendency to be easily startled, dull-pale complexion, pale lips, Pale and Thin tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Spleen-Yang deficiency

Cold hands and often cold feet, poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, a feeling of cold, oedema, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Liver-Qi stagnation

Cold hands, especially fingers, hypochondrial or epigastric distension, irritability, moodiness, a feeling of a lump in the throat, premenstrual tension, Wiry pulse.

Phlegm in the channels

Cold hands, numbness or tingling of the limbs, a feeling of heaviness, or of oppression of the chest, sputum in the throat, Swollen tongue with sticky coating, Slippery pulse.

• Cold hands are a reliable symptom of Yang deficiency.

Hot hands

Interrogation, Chapter 39

Heart-Fire

Hot hands, especially the dorsum, palpitations, thirst, mouth and tongue ulcers, mental restlessness, a feeling of agitation, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, a feeling of heat, red face, bitter taste, Red tongue with redder tip and yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Lung-Heat

Hot hands, especially the dorsum, cough, slight breathlessness, a feeling of heat, chest ache, flaring of the nostrils, thirst, red face, Red tongue with yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Stomach-Heat

Hot hands, especially the dorsum, burning epigastric pain, thirst, sour regurgitation, nausea, excessive hunger, foul breath, a feeling of heat, Red tongue with a yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Heart-Yin deficiency with Empty-Heat

Hot palms, five-palm heat, palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, tendency to be easily startled, mental restlessness, uneasiness, ‘feeling hot and bothered’, dry mouth and throat, thirst with a desire to sip fluids, a feeling of heat in the evening, malar flush, night sweating, Red tongue with redder tip and no coating, Floating-Empty and Rapid pulse.

Lung-Yin deficiency with Empty-Heat

Hot palms, five-palm heat, dry cough or with scanty, sticky sputum which could be blood tinged, dry mouth and throat at night, weak/hoarse voice, night sweating, tiredness, malar flush, a feeling of heat or a low-grade fever in the evening, thin body or chest, insomnia, anxiety, Red tongue without coating, Floating-Empty and Rapid pulse.

Stomach-Yin deficiency with Empty-Heat

Hot palms, five-palm heat, dull or burning epigastric pain, a feeling of heat in the afternoon, constipation (dry stools), dry mouth and throat especially in the afternoon, thirst with a desire to drink in small sips, a feeling of hunger but no desire to eat, a slight feeling of fullness after eating, night sweating, five-palm heat, bleeding gums, Red tongue (or Red centre only) without coating in the centre, Floating-Empty and Rapid pulse.

Stomach Damp-Heat

Hot hands (dorsum), swelling and redness of the joints, pain in the hands, a feeling of fullness and pain of the epigastrium, a feeling of heaviness, facial pain, stuffed nose or thick sticky nasal discharge, thirst without a desire to drink, nausea, a feeling of heat, dull-yellow complexion, a sticky taste, Red tongue with sticky yellow coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.

Invasion of Wind

Dorsum of the hands hot to touch, aversion to cold, chills, fever, stiff neck, occipital headache, Floating pulse.

Other symptoms and signs depend on whether it is Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat.

Pale hands

Observation, Chapter 14

Heart-Yang deficiency

Pale hands, cold hands, palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, tiredness, spontaneous sweating, a slight feeling of discomfort or stuffiness in the heart region, a feeling of cold, bright-pale face, slightly dark lips, Pale tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Lung-Yang deficiency

Pale hands, cold hands, slight shortness of breath, slight cough with profuse watery sputum, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, bright-white complexion, tendency to catch colds, tiredness, dislike of cold, a feeling of cold generally or of the upper back, absence of thirst, Pale and slightly wet tongue, Weak pulse.

Liver-Blood deficiency

Pale hands, dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, numbness/tingling of the limbs, scanty menstruation, dull-pale complexion, Pale tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Heart-Blood deficiency

Pale hands, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, tendency to be easily startled, dull-pale complexion, pale lips, Pale and Thin tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Red dorsum of the hands

Observation, Chapter 14

Full-Heat

Red dorsum of the hands, hot hands, a feeling of heat, thirst, red face.

Other symptoms and signs depend on which organ is involved, which may be the Heart, Lungs or Stomach.

Red palms

Observation, Chapter 14

Empty-Heat

Red palms of the hands, hot hands, becoming hotter in the afternoon and evening, a feeling of heat in the afternoon or evening, thirst with a desire to drink in small sips.

Other symptoms and signs depend on which organ is involved, which may be the Heart, Lungs or Stomach.

Sweaty palms

Observation, Chapter 14

Lung-Qi deficiency

Sweaty palms, slight shortness of breath, slight cough, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, bright-white complexion, tendency to catch colds, tiredness, dislike of cold, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.

Lung-Yang deficiency

Sweaty palms, pale hands, cold hands, slight shortness of breath, slight cough with profuse watery sputum, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, bright-white complexion, tendency to catch colds, tiredness, dislike of cold, a feeling of cold generally or of the upper back, absence of thirst, Pale and slightly wet tongue, Weak pulse.

Lung-Yin deficiency

Sweaty palms which are worse in the afternoon, hot palms, cough which is dry or with scanty sticky sputum, weak/hoarse voice, dry mouth and throat, tickly throat, tiredness, dislike of speaking, thin body or thin chest, night sweating, normal-coloured tongue without coating (or with rootless coating) in the front part, Floating-Empty pulse.

Heart-Qi deficiency

Sweaty palms when nervous, palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, pale face, tiredness, slight depression, spontaneous sweating, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.

Heart-Yang deficiency

Sweaty palms with cold sweat when nervous, cold hands, palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, tiredness, spontaneous sweating, a slight feeling of discomfort or stuffiness in the heart region, a feeling of cold, bright-pale face, slightly dark lips, Pale tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Heart-Yin deficiency

Sweaty palms which are worse in the evening or when nervous, palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, tendency to be easily startled, mental restlessness, uneasiness, ‘feeling hot and bothered’, dry mouth and throat, night sweating, normal-coloured tongue without coating or with rootless coating, Floating-Empty pulse, especially on the left Front position.

Lung-Heat

Sweaty palms, hot hands, cough, slight breathless-ness, a feeling of heat, chest ache, flaring of the nostrils, thirst, red face, Red tongue with yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Heart-Fire

Sweaty palms and hot hands, especially when anxious, palpitations, thirst, mouth and tongue ulcers, mental restlessness, a feeling of agitation, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, a feeling of heat, red face, bitter taste, Red tongue with redder tip and yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Pain in the hands

Interrogation, Chapter 39

Wind

Wandering pain in the hands, fingers and other joints.

Cold

Pain in the hands that is aggravated by exposure to cold and alleviated by application of heat, contraction of fingers, a feeling of cold, cold hands.

Dampness

Ache and swelling of the hand or fingers or both, numbness of the hands.

Damp-Heat in the channels

Pain, swelling and redness of the hands, numbness/tingling of the hands, a feeling of heaviness of the arms, muscle ache.

Liver-Qi stagnation

Pain in the hands (often in feet as well), hypochondrial or epigastric distension, irritability, moodiness, a feeling of a lump in the throat, premenstrual tension, Wiry pulse.

Stagnation of Qi and stasis of Blood

Pain in the hands that is worse at night, rigidity of the fingers, hypochondrial or epigastric distension, irritability, moodiness, a feeling of a lump in the throat, premenstrual tension, abdominal pain, chest pain, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Blood deficiency

Dull ache of the hands, cold hands, dizziness, blurred vision, scanty periods, Pale tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Other symptoms and signs depend on the organ affected, which may be Heart, Liver or Spleen. This pattern is more common in women.

Heart-Yang deficiency

Dull ache in the hands, cold hands, palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, tiredness, spontaneous sweating, a slight feeling of discomfort or stuffiness in the heart region, a feeling of cold, bright-pale face, slightly dark lips, Pale tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Lung-Yang deficiency

Dull ache in the hands, cold hands, slight shortness of breath, slight cough with profuse watery sputum, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, bright-white complexion, tendency to catch colds, tiredness, dislike of cold, a feeling of cold generally or of the upper back, absence of thirst, Pale and slightly wet tongue, Weak pulse.

Stomach-Yang deficiency

Dull ache in the hands, cold hands (and often feet), discomfort or dull pain in the epigastrium, better after eating and with pressure or massage, no appetite, preference for warm drinks and foods, vomiting of clear fluid, absence of thirst, cold and weak limbs, tiredness, pale complexion, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Heart-Yin deficiency

Dull ache in the hands that is worse in the evening, hot palms, palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, a tendency to be easily startled, mental restlessness, uneasiness, ‘feeling hot and bothered’, dry mouth and throat, night sweating, normal-coloured tongue without coating or with rootless coating, Floating-Empty pulse, especially on the left Front position.

Lung-Yin deficiency

Dull ache in the hands that is worse in the evening, hot palms, dry cough, weak voice, dry throat with a desire to sip water, hoarse voice, night sweating, tiredness, tongue without coating in the front, Floating-Empty pulse.

Itchy hands

Interrogation, Chapter 39

Dampness

Itchy hands, swollen fingers with small white vesicles, fungal infections, sticky tongue coating, Slippery pulse.

Damp-Heat

Itchy hands, swollen and red fingers, small yellow vesicles, fungal infections, sticky yellow tongue coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.

Invasion of Wind

Itchy hands with acute onset, itching spreading up the arms and towards the face, red rash on hands.

Blood deficiency leading to Wind in the skin

Itchy hands, pale and cold hands, tingling of the hands, Pale tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Numbness/tingling of the hands

Interrogation, Chapter 39

Liver-Blood deficiency

Numbness/tingling of the hands and limbs, more tingling than numbness, dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, numbness or tingling of limbs, scanty menstruation, dull-pale complexion, Pale tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Phlegm

Numbness/tingling of the hands and limbs, more numbness than tingling, dizziness, feeling of heavi-ness of the body, sputum in the throat, a feeling of oppression of the chest, Swollen tongue, Slippery pulse.

Wind-Phlegm

Unilateral numbness of a hand and especially the first three fingers, severe dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, tinnitus, nausea, sputum in the throat, a feeling of oppression of the chest, Stiff or Deviated and Swollen tongue, Wiry-Slippery pulse.

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Tags: Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine A Comprehensive Guide

Apr 15, 2017 | Posted by admin in GENERAL & FAMILY MEDICINE | Comments Off

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