Unilateral pain Moreover, Qi is the power that promotes the free flow of Blood in the body, and if it is insufficient,

the Blood circulation will slow, and later on eventually stagnate, and so unilateral pain occurs. Weak constitution, old age and sexual over activity may cause consumption of the Kidney-Yin. As the Liver and Kidney share the same source, deficiency of Kidney-Yin may cause deficiency of Liver-Yin. As a result, there is insufficient Yin and Blood in the channels to nourish the tendons and muscles, and so pain occurs. Many chronic cases with unilateral pain are due to deficiency of the Yin of the Liver and Kidney. Treatment based on differentiation Before a differentiation is made, it is important to make a general examination of the patient. Special attention should be paid to the following characteristics of the unilateral pain: the quality, the accompanying symptoms and the factors that cause the pain to start, to increase or to decrease. Differentiation Differentiation of the quality of the pain Acute pain with an aversion to cold is usually due to an invasion of External Wind Stagnation of Liver-Qi usually causes chronic pain with distension and migration Stabbing pain with fixed locations and palpable nodulation or masses is usually due to stagnation of Blood Pain with numbness and a heavy sensation is

usually caused by Wind-Phlegm A slight pain, which is up and down, and closely related with tiredness, aggravation of the pain by exertion and tiredness is usually due to deficiency of Qi and Blood A mild pain with a burning sensation is usually due to deficiency of Yin. Differentiation of occurrence, aggravation and relief of unilateral pain An acute pain that starts or is aggravated when the patient feels cold or after sweating is usually due to an invasion of External Win A pain that occurs during the menstruation period is usually caused by stagnation or deficiency of Blood If a chronic pain starts or is aggravated when the patient feels warm or is in a hot environment, deficiency of Yin is usually the caus If the pain starts or gets worse under stressful or other emotional conditions, it is usually due to stagnation of Liver-Qi If a pain that starts after trauma, operations, strokes or other diseases is usually caused by stagnation of Qi and Blood If the pain occurs or gets worse at night, it is usually due to stagnation of Blood or to deficiency of Yin. Differentiation of accompanying symptoms A pain accompanied by fever, an aversion to cold and pain in the limbs is usually due to an invasion of External Wind Pain with irritability or bad mood is usually due to

stagnation of Liver-Qi Pain accompanied by numbness and a heavy feeling is usually caused by Wind-Phlegm When the pain is combined with fatigue, palpitation, dizziness, and pale lips, it is usually due to deficiency of Qi and Blood Deficiency of Yin usually causes pain with a hot sensation and dizziness Pain with a sharp or stabbing sensation is usually due to stagnation of Blood. Treatment Invasion of Wind-Cold Symptoms and signs Signs and symptoms of Wind-Cold are a unilateral pain in the trunk, a unilateral joint pain in the extremities, back pain, fever, an aversion to cold, sweating or lack of sweating, headache, a stiff neck, a lack of thirst, clear urine, a pale tongue with a white coating and a floating and wiry pulse. Principle of treatment Dispel the External Wind, regulate Defensive and Nutritive Qi, harmonise the Collaterals and relieve the pain.