Muscle Weakness

"Muscle Weakness" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for muscle weakness.

Content Related to Muscle Weakness

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "muscle weakness" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "muscle weakness" - 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 SI 6 (Nursing the Aged)
  
      Dorsal to the head of the ulna in the body cleft on the radial side of the styloid process, found with the palm facing …
  
      Acute and Severe Pain, in the neck, shoulder a/or arms. Useful point for treating elderly patients, deafness, tinnitus, failing vision, upper body/limb stiffness. Overwork a/or overstrain, fatigue in the extremities.  
• View SI 7 (Branch to the Correct)
  
      5 cun proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the SI 5 to SI 8 line.
  
      Local point for pain and/or strength/control issues in the elbow, arm, and fingers.  May be helpful for weakness of all the limbs as well. Stiff neck, headaches, vision issues - blurry, obstructed. Useful with onset of exterior wind-heat…
• View SI 12 (Grasping the Wind)
  
      Directly above SI 11 in the center of the suprascapular fossa, found in a depression when the arm is lifted.
  
      Local point for shoulder, scapula and/or arm pain, numbness, weakness along the course of the channel.  
• View SP 3 (Supreme White)
  
      Proximal and inferior to the head of the 1st metatarsalphalangeal joint in a depression at the junction of the red and …
  
      SP Qi and Yang Deficiency, especially those with excess pathologies - abdominal a/or epigastric pain, digestive issues, heart pain. Muscle atrophy in the lower legs, heaviness in the body. Main treatment point of Lung Sho pattern (with L…
• View SP 7 (Leaking Valley)
  
      6 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus on line connecting SP 9 and the tip of the medial malleolus on the posterio…
  
      Local point. Continued muscle atrophy in the presence of adequate nutrition. Promotes urination - difficult urination. Resolves dampness - lower body swelling, ankle, knee.
• 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 33 (Yin Market)
  
      With knee flexed, 3 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on 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. Weakness, numbness, motor control issues of the leg and/or knee.
• 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…