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Frozen Shoulder

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Early Stage
   b. Middle Stage
  c. Last Stage
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

It is a chronic disease, which is related with chronic shoulder strain, acute traumatic injury, and retrograde affection from neck degeneration, invasion by cold and infection. It also called “ omalgia at 50”.

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2. Symptoms

a. It often occurs at middle age women;
b. It happens after the neck, shoulder or arm injuries or chronic strain.
c. There is a pain, which may be aching, dull or stabbing pain and it radiates the neck, elbow area.
d. There is the limitation of the shoulder movement especially abduction, external rotation and elevation.
e. One or two of the trigger points can be found in the shoulder area.

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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

a. The treatment is very effective to relive the pain, increase the blood circulation of the shoulder, neck and arm at the same time.
b. The early treatment is necessary to avoid the frozen shoulder.
c. For late stage, the use of Chinese Tui Na and Qi Gong are necessary in order to relax the ligaments and muscles.
d. Daily shoulder exercise can speed up the recovery such as abduction, external rotation, extension and raise of the shoulder joint; the range of the movement should be extended gradually.

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Early stage

The shoulder pain with rigid and unrelated arm and hand or numbness fingers when the change of weather or fatigue is happened.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Warming the channels to expel cold, and removing obstruction of the channels to relieve the pain.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction for Treating Painful Joints. Astragalus root 10g, Red peony root, Chinese angelica root 10g, Notopterygium root 10g , Ledebouriella root 10g, licorice root 6g.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

  

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Syndrome (b)
Middle Stage

This is a chronic process that the shoulder pain is constant and there is the limitation of the shoulder movement.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Relieving rigidity of muscles, activating the collaterals, removing blood stasis and relieving pain.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction for tonifying the kidney and promoting blood circulation. Patholobus stem 10g, Red sage root, Notopterygium root 10g, Achyranthes root 10g.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

  

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Syndrome (c)
Last Stage

The main complain are the vague shoulder pain, muscle Atrophy, the limitation of the shoulder and arm movement. There are the symptoms of dizziness, insomnia.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Tonifying the liver and kidney, relieving rigidity of muscles and activating colleterals.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction for tonifying the kidney and liver and promoting blood circulation. Prepared rehmannia root 10g, Dogwood fruit 10g, Pubescent angelica root 10g, Eucommia bark, Chinese angelica root.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Prescription/Formula: Li 15, Si 10, Sj14, Gb21, Li4.

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally, Qigong can relieve pain as it improves the circulation of qi and blood. Results won't be visable right away, however it takes less time for Qigong to heal pain than other ailments.

The following types of Qigong may help:

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
1) Pueraria Root 30g, Loranthus Mulberry Mistletoe 30g, Ginger root 2 pieces, Red Beans 60g, Pork 2 pounds, 3 liters of water.
Cook them as the soup for a week supply; Take it twice a day.

(c) Life style
1. Do not stain your shoulder or arm constantly.
2. Avoid explore your shoulder at night in order to avoid the cold invasion to the Muscles.
3. Treat your neck degeneration could reduce the shoulder disease.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.