Wu Mingjie’s Proven Formula for Treating Chronic Upper Limb Pain

(Applicable for conditions such as frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.)

Formula:

• 12 grams of Cinnamomi Ramulus (桂枝)

• 30 grams of Millettiae Caulis (鸡血藤)

• 10 grams of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (姜黄)

• 10 grams of Piperis Kadsurae Caulis (海风藤)

• 10 grams of Poria (茯苓)

• 20 grams of Astragali Radix (黄芪)

• 10 grams of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (丹参)

Preparation: Decoction in water; take one dose daily, with ten doses constituting one treatment course.

Note: Cinnamomi Ramulus, Millettiae Caulis, Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Piperis Kadsurae Caulis, Poria, Astragali Radix, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae are common herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine frequently used to treat chronic upper limb pain. Their mechanisms of action mainly involve dispelling wind and cold, invigorating blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis, tonifying Qi and strengthening the spleen, as well as unblocking the meridians to relieve pain. Below is a brief explanation of the efficacy and the mechanism of each herb in the treatment of chronic upper limb pain:

1. Cinnamomi Ramulus (桂枝)

• Efficacy: Assists in warming Yang and transforming Qi, induces sweating to relieve muscle tension, and warms and unblocks the meridians.

• Mechanism of Action: By warming and unblocking the meridians, it helps to alleviate pain caused by cold-induced stagnation of blood. It promotes blood circulation and improves local blood supply, thereby reducing pain symptoms.

2. Millettiae Caulis (鸡血藤)

• Efficacy: Relieves muscular tension and unblocks the channels, promotes blood circulation and nourishes the blood, and regulates menstruation.

• Mechanism of Action: It invigorates and nourishes the blood, thereby improving circulation and relieving pain caused by blood stasis. Its action in relaxing tendons and unblocking the channels also helps to reduce numbness and limb pain.

3. Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (姜黄)

• Efficacy: Moves Qi, breaks blood stasis, unblocks the meridians, and relieves pain.

• Mechanism of Action: With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it can inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators, reduce the inflammatory response, and alleviate pain. Additionally, it promotes blood circulation, thereby reducing blood stasis.

4. Piperis Kadsurae Caulis (海风藤)

• Efficacy: Dispels wind-dampness, unblocks the meridians, and relieves numbness and pain.

• Mechanism of Action: It dispels wind and dampness and unblocks the meridians, which helps to alleviate pain caused by wind-damp obstruction. Its analgesic effect contributes to reducing joint and muscle pain.

5. Poria (茯苓)

• Efficacy: Promotes diuresis to expel dampness, strengthens the spleen, and calms the mind.

• Mechanism of Action: By promoting diuresis and expelling dampness, it reduces internal dampness and prevents dampness from obstructing the meridians, which can cause pain. Its spleen-strengthening effect also helps improve overall health and prevent the occurrence of pain.

6. Astragali Radix (黄芪)

• Efficacy: Tonifies Qi and raises Yang, strengthens the protective Qi (Wei Qi) and consolidates the exterior, and supports detoxification and tissue regeneration.

• Mechanism of Action: It enhances the body’s immune function by tonifying Qi and raising Yang, thereby promoting tissue repair and reducing pain. Its ability to strengthen the body’s exterior defense helps prevent the invasion of external pathogens, reducing the incidence of pain.

7. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (丹参)

• Efficacy: Invigorates blood circulation and dispels blood stasis, unblocks the meridians and relieves pain, and clears the heart to eliminate irritability.

• Mechanism of Action: It improves blood circulation by invigorating blood and dispelling blood stasis, thereby reducing pain caused by blood stasis. Its anti-inflammatory properties further help to diminish the inflammatory response and alleviate pain symptoms.

Summary:

In summary, these herbs work synergistically through multiple mechanisms to alleviate chronic upper limb pain. In clinical practice, treatment should be individualized based on the patient’s specific condition, employing differential diagnosis and appropriate herb combinations to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. This information is for education purpose only, patient must consult with a qualified TCM practitioner before use this herbal formula.