Bi Syndrome

(painful obstruction)

Arthritis

Bi Syndrome (can be known as Arthritis in some cases) Will show the symptoms of joint pain, limb pain, body aches, numbness, feeling of heaviness, limited movement of limbs and or body which gradually gets worse.

Theses symptoms of pain and limited movement will always be present with this syndrome. Bi syndrome is due to Wind-Cold-Dampness in the meridians and collaterals.

Pain is ALWAYS present with Bi syndrome. Disorders with weakness, paralysis and NO PAIN is called Wei syndrome.

Principle of treatment in Bi Syndrome is to invigorate the Qi (main point Du 14)

There are 2 Parts of Bi-Syndrome  - Arthritis:

Big Bi - Classical - relates to 5 organs -Heart Bi -Blood Bi - easily appears in summer time -Lung Bi - Skin Bi - easily appears in autum -Spleen Bi - Muscle Bi - easily appears end of 4 seasons -Liver Bi - Tendon Bi - easily caught in spring -Kidney Bi - Bone Bi - easily caught in winter

Small Bi - New - Qi/Blood/Yin/Yang/Essence Deficiency Part of body: ie - knee Bi, shoulder Bi, fingers Bi, neck Bi, …

Symptoms: Pain Bi (cold Bi)- Tong Bi Heavy Bi - Zao Bi Wind Bi - Xin Bi Hot Bi - Re Bi

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment

Always treat symptoms due to wind-cold-damp. Even if Hot Bi is present it is only temporary.

Bi Syndrome (arthritis) Due To External Pathogenic Factors

Wind - Wandering Joint Pain

Acupuncture points for arthritis / Bi Syndrome

– Du 14, Gall bladder 20, Bladder 17, Spleen 10

1-expel superficial wind - induce perspiration - Ma Huang, Gui Zhi, Fang Feng

2-promote blood circulation to extinguish internal wind - Tao Hong Si Wu Tang, Hou Lou Xiao Ling Dan, Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang

Cold Bi Syndrome -  Severe and Fixed joint pain with a cold sensation, heat ameliorates the pain and cold aggravates it.

Acupuncture points for Cold Bi syndrome – Du 14, Bladder 12, 23, Ren 4

1-warm herbs - Bai Zhu, Yin Yang Hou 2-hot herbs - Fu Zi, Gan Jiang

Damp Bi Syndrome -   Fixed joint pain with heavy sensation of the limb or all extremities Acupuncture points for Damp Bi Syndrome – Du 14, Bladder 17, 20, Spleen 9, Stomach 36

1-strengthen spleen - Bai Zhu

2-dry dampness - eliminate dampness, transform dampness - Pei Lan, Yin Chen Hao, Fu Ling, Yi Yi Ren, Bai Zhu, zu Xie, Zhu Ling

Heat Bi syndrome -  Red, swollen, painful joints

Acupuncture points for Heat Bi syndome – Du 14, Large Intestine 4, 11 1-king fire

- do not use cold damp herbs!

2-minister fire - do not use cold damp herbs! Clear heat without damaging spleen - Jin Ying Hua, Hu Jung, Tu Fu Ling, Lian Qiao, Xia Ku Cao

Bi Syndrome (arthritis) Due To Internal Disorders:  

Phlegm numbness of joint

Blood Stagnation joint pain with history of trauma

Qi and Blood Dull joint pain with chronic and long history (deficiency)

If pain is localized in the joint it is a mild condition. If pain is not localized in a joint then the pathogenic factors have entered the 5 organs and is considered severe. Use whole body symptoms to distinguish which organs the pathogenic factors have entered and treat accordingly.  

Acupuncture Point Modifications for Bi Syndrome - Arthritis :

Arthritis in a specific area.

- shoulder- 3 shoulder needles, 1. extra Jian Qian, Large Intestine 15, SJ 14, 2. Large Intestine 15, SJ 14, Small Intestine 9, 3, Large Intestine 15, SJ 14, Large Intestine 14 -

elbow- Large Intestine 10, 11, SJ 5, 10, Lung 5, Large Intestine 4

wrist- Large Intestine 5, SJ 4, Small Intestine 5, Large Intestine 4

spine- Du 3, 12, 26, Yintang

hip- Gall bladder 29, 30, 39

buttocks- Bladder 36, 54, Spleen 9

knee- Stomach 34, 35, Gall bladder 33, 34

ankle- Bladder 60, 62, Kidney 6, Gall bladder 40, Stomach 41

Alternative Treatment Methods for Bi Syndrome - Arthritis 

auricular- shenmen, sympathetic, local area, use point detection injection- local Dang Gui, Fang Feng, Wei Ling Xian solution (0.5ml), *do not inject into joint)

7 star- local points 3 Stages of Bi Syndrome

Early Stage Bi Syndrome-

expel wind cold damp - Qiang Hou Sheng Shi Tang

Middle Stage Bi syndrome -

Blood Stasis - Du Huang Jie Ji Tang - Phlegm - Bai Jie Zi, Tian Nan Xing, Dan Nan Xing

Late Stage Bi Syndrome -

Yin/Yang/Qi/Essence Deficiency, Tonify Kidney - Gou Ji (dog spine)

Tonify Liver and Kidney and expel wind-cold-damp -Wu Jia Pi

Useful Herbs For Bi-Syndrome (arthritis)

Guiding herbs: Shoulder - Sang Zhi, Jiang Huang

Neck - Qiang Huo

Upper Back - Ge Gen

Middle Back - Gou Ji

Lower Back - Ba Ji Tian

Sacrum - Xu Duan - Gu Sui Bu, Wu Jia Pi, Bu Gu Zi

Fingers - Sang Zhi

Hip to Knee - Du Huo

Knee to Ankle - Mu Gua

Ankle and Foot - Niu Xi

Whole Body - Ji Xue Teng, Luo Shi Teng, Hai Feng Tang

Whole Bodies Joints - Wei Ling xian, Ji Xue Teng, Luo Shi Tang

Spine - Gou Ji, Wu Jia Pi, Ba Ji Tian, Gu sui Bu, Bu Gu Zi, xu Duan

Swollen/Numb Joints - Di Long, Bai Jie Zi, Si Gua Lou (lufa sponge)

Joint Pain - any vine (Ji Xue Teng, Yin Hua Teng)

Pain with Insomnia - Yuan Hu Sou, Xu Chiang Qin

Animal Herbs for bi syndrome:

Wu Gong,- Cockroach

- Du Meridian pain, joint deformity Quan Xie - Scorpion - 4 limbs pain Chuan San Zha - Ant Eater - whole body pain Shui Zhi - Leech - blood stasis Si -Any Snake 

wind-cold-dampness in collaterals - stops pain Ma Yi - Black Ants - tonify kidney