Leg Pain

"Leg Pain" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for leg pain.

Content Related to Leg Pain

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "leg pain" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "leg pain" - i.e. the "cause(s)".

For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.

• View EX Huatuojiaji at T7 (Sides of Spine at T7)
  
      .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of T7
  
      T7 (Left) innervates the spleen and is an important point for any blood related issues - both in terms of circulation but also in terms of disease.  Due to the role in body fluids and blood a range of issues that are more prominent at nigh…
• View EX Huatuojiaji at T8 (Sides of Spine at T8)
  
      .5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes of T8
  
      T8 (Left) innervates the esophagus and is used for conditions such as reflux and a range of digestive issues worsened by poor diet and drinking too many fluids with meals.  Also useful as support points for leg and foot problems. T8 (Righ…
• View KD 8 (Intersection Reach)
  
      .5 cun anterior to KI 7, 2 cun above KI 3 posterior to the medial border of the tibia.
  
      Issues of movement and mobility of the medial aspect of the lower limbs, ankle, heel - sprains, pain
• View SP 13 (Bowel Abode)
  
      .7 cun laterosuperior to SP 12 and 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline (between CV 2 and CV 3).
  
      Abdominal pain, abdominal masses (fibroids, cysts, etc.), hernia, thigh pain - regulates the liver, qi, and alleviates pain.
• View ST 4 (Earth Granary)
  
      Directly below the pupil, lateral to the corner of the mouth.
  
      Facial pain - Bell's palsy, facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, deviation of mouth from stroke, toothache. Inability to close the eye, eye twitching, itching, night blindness. Inability to eat. May be helpful for atrophy and/or move…
• View ST 31 (Thigh Joint)
  
      On 2 lines connecting the ASIS and the superiolateral corner of the patella and level with the lower border of symphysi…
  
      ST 31, ST 32 & ST 33 are all useful for Bi-Syndromes a/or Wei Syndromes (flaccidity or weakness) of the lower legs. Pain in the thigh, muscular atrophy/weakness, knee pain, low back pain.
• View ST 32 (Crouching Rabbit)
  
      6 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting with the ASIS.
  
      ST 31, ST 32 & ST 33 are all useful for Bi-Syndromes a/or Wei Syndromes (flaccidity or weakness) of the lower legs. Muscular atrophy of the lower leg, thigh, knee pain, low back pain. Beriberi (thiamine, B1 deficiency).
• View ST 34 (Beam Hill)
  
      With knee flexed, 2 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting with the ASIS.
  
      Lateral knee issues, swelling, pain, difficult movement. Pain, motor control, circulation issues of the knee and/or lower leg. Excess & Acute issues of the Stomach and chest - acute Stomach pain, GERD, vomiting, acute breast pain.
• View ST 36 (Leg Three Li)
  
      3 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral from the anterior border of the tibia.
  
      Tonify deficient Qi a/or Blood. Tonify Wei Qi and Qi overall - low immunity, chronic illness, poor digestion, general weakness, particularly with moxibustion, very important acupuncture point for building and maintaining overall health. …
• View ST 38 (Ribbon Opening)
  
      8 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral from the anterior border of the tibia.
  
      Empirical point for shoulder issues - pain, motor control, adhesive capsulitis or "frozen shoulder."  Local point for lower leg issues - pain, atrophy, numbness.
• View ST 39 (Lower Great Hollow)
  
      9 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral from the anterior border of the tibia.
  
      Disorders of the Small Intestine organ - abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentary. SI channel problems - breast issues, mastitis, pain/swelling/numbness along channel. Local point for lower leg issues - pain, numbness, motor control, atrophy.
• View ST 40 (Beautiful Bulge)
  
      8 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral to ST 38, two finger widths lateral to the anterior border of the tibia.
  
      Empirical point to resolve phlegm in the body anywhere from any origin. Phlegm in the head - headaches, dizziness / vertigo, depression, poor concentration, stronger shen disturbances - mania. Phlegm in the body - chest oppression, breat…
• View UB 36 (Support)
  
      On posterior side of the thigh at the midpoint of the inferior gluteal crease (locate in prone position).
  
      Low back pain/sciatica where pain runs down the posterior aspect of the leg. Weakness of the lower limb. Similar functions to UB 35 in clearing damp heat and swellings from the lower warmer - genital pain and swelling, hemorrhoids, semin…
• View UB 37 (Gate of Abundance)
  
      6 cun below UB 36 on a line joining UB 36 and UB 40.
  
      Strenghtens the spine and alleviates pain - low back pain, sciatic pain, local hamstring, thigh, leg pain. Also used for watery diarrhea.
• View UB 38 (Superficial Cleft)
  
      1 cun above UB 39 on the medial side of the tendon of biceps femoris (found with knee slightly bent).
  
      Similar functions to the bladder points on the sacrum and leg in that it relieves pain and moves the triple warmer.  Pain related issues such as pain and/or numbness in the buttocks, pain along the meridian in the thigh or outer thigh. Dr…