BODY

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BODY

Chapter contents

ACHES IN THE WHOLE BODY

PAIN IN THE JOINTS

NUMBNESS/TINGLING

INTRODUCTION

Questions about the body concern mostly pain and numbness. Chest and abdomen are discussed in Chapter 38 and limbs in Chapter 39.

WHY WE ASK

Apart from the question regarding lower backache, which I ask every time I suspect a Kidney deficiency, questions about the body concern mostly symptoms affecting the whole body which do not pertain to any specific area, such as pain, numbness or itching of the whole body or loss of weight or obesity.

WHEN WE ASK

Apart from the question about backache, I generally ask questions about the body only if relevant. In particular, the question about gain or loss of weight is important to give us an idea of the state of Blood and Yin and of the Stomach and Spleen.

HOW WE ASK

The questions about the body concerning numbness, pain or itching are self-explanatory.

ACHES IN THE WHOLE BODY

Symptoms and Signs, Chapter 68

By ‘aches in the whole body’, I refer to aching or pain in most of the joints and muscles; it is not a common symptom. The most important distinction is that according to onset. Aching or pain in the whole body with sudden onset is due to invasion of external Wind and it is therefore accompanied by aversion to cold, shivers, fever and a Floating pulse.

In chronic conditions, the most common cause of aches in the whole body is deficiency of Qi and Blood. In this case, it is accompanied by pronounced lassitude and it is ameliorated by rest.

Aches in the muscles of the body and especially the limbs are usually due to retention of Dampness in the muscles and are frequently seen in ME (postviral fatigue syndrome); in this case, the muscle ache is accompanied by a pronounced feeling of heaviness of the limbs and body. Aches in all the muscles with a hot sensation of the body on palpation are due to Stomach-Heat.

Pain in the arms and shoulders experienced only when walking is due to Liver-Qi stagnation.

In women after childbirth, pain in the whole body is due to Blood deficiency if it is dull or to Blood stasis if it is severe and stabbing.

Box 37.1 summarizes the patterns underlying aches in the whole body.

BOX 37.1 ACHES IN THE WHOLE BODY

• Invasion of external Wind: aching with aversion to cold, shivers, fever, Floating pulse

• Deficiency of Qi and Blood: aching with lassitude, ameliorated by rest

• Retention of Dampness in the muscles: aching with feeling of heaviness of the limbs and body

• Stomach-Heat: aching with hot sensation of the body

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