Principles of Acupuncture for Pain Treatment

针灸治痛的三个原则

1. Pain comes from blockage of Qi and Blood 

From the perspective of pathogenesis, the ancients believed that blockage of qi and blood in the human body's internal organs and meridians was the fundamental cause of pain. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment dredges the meridians, harmonizes the internal organs, regulates qi and blood, then relieves pain.

不通则痛，通则不痛：

古人从病机方面认为人体脏腑经络气血不通是造成疼痛的根本原因，中医治疗疏通经络、调和脏腑，使气血通调，疼痛可止。

2. Selecting acupoints along the meridians 

Pain caused by meridian diseases should be treated by selecting acupuncture points on the meridian that intersect and penetrate the painful area. The ancients also gave some advice, they said using special  acupoints, such as “originate, differentiate, intersect, and reunite”acupoints to relieve pain  when Qi and blood in the meridians are stagnant. That is to say, when pain is caused by Qi and blood blockage, the original points, Luo points, intersection points, and Hui points that in the meridians which intersect or go through the  pain area, can be used for treatment. 

住痛移疼，取相交相贯之经：

经络病而致的疼痛，应当选取与疼痛部位相交叉、相贯穿的经络穴位来治疗。也就是说要想治好疼痛，一定要熟悉掌握经络的循行与分布，这很重要。古人也有进一步的具体指教，如经络滞而求原、别、交、会之道。也就是由于经络阻滞、气血不通而引起疼痛时，可取相交、相贯经络的原穴、络穴、交会穴、会穴来治疗。这是由于经络病而引起疼痛的治疗原则。

3. Use SHU and MU acupoints when the pain comes from Zang-fu organs disordered. 

脏腑病而求俞、募之微：

脏腑气血不调时，用五脏六腑的俞穴、募穴来治疗，通过这些穴位来调和脏腑气血，达到治疗因脏腑病而引起疼痛的目的。

Ten TCM treatment principles for Pain 

针灸治痛的十个立法

1. Dispelling wind and relieving pain

疏风止痛法 

2. Dispersing cold and relieving pain

散寒止痛法

3. Dispelling dampness and relieving pain

祛湿止痛法

4. Promoting Qi and relieving pain

行气止痛法  

5. Promoting blood circulation and relieving pain

活血止痛法

6. Warming internal organs and tissue and relieving pain 

温中止痛法  

7. Helping digestion to relieve stomach ache and  abdominal pain

消导止痛法

8. Nourishing blood and relieving pain

养血止痛法

9. Clearing away excessive heat and relieving pain 

清热止痛法  

10. Kidney Nourishing Pain Relief Method 

补肾止痛法

• Frozen Shoulder 肩周炎

• Cervical Spondylosis 颈椎病

• Backache 腰疼

• Joint pain in limbs 四肢关节痛