Carpal tunnel syndrome

From a western medicine perspective there is possible overlap with thyroid conditions and tendon issues such as carpal tunnel ( ). From a Chinese Medicine perspective there is overlap as well between aspects of yin and/or blood deficiency which are often behind issues of hyperthyroidism.

So when you plan a treatment, first you focus on their Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treat the root causes, then you focus somewhat on the local issues (see Acupuncture Treatment Plan for general information).

The general information I can give you about carpal tunnel is that local needling is somewhat ineffective in my opinion, so working much higher up in the neck and the shoulder possibly with tuina and/or cupping is crucial to success. For a kidney yin deficient patient with these issues a treatment from me might look like:

• GV 22
• UB 13 right side
• GB 20
• huatuo at C7, T1, T2, T9, L1 and L2.
• KD 6 w/LU 7 and SI 3 w/ UB 62
• PC 7 bilateral

Then tuina and cupping on the upper back and shoulders.