Foot Painaccording to TCM
What is Foot Pain?
Foot pain is a common ailment that can significantly affect a person's mobility and overall quality of life. It encompasses various types of discomfort within different regions of the foot, including the heel, arch, toes, and the ball of the foot.
Conditions like plantar fasciitis represent a frequent cause of foot pain, characterized by inflammation of the thick band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot. Other sources of foot pain may include injuries, overuse, diseases, or conditions that affect the foot's structure and functionality.
How Does TCM View Foot Pain?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives foot pain not as an isolated symptom but as a reflection of a deeper imbalance within the body's energetic system. TCM theory suggests that pain arises when the flow of Qi (vital energy) and Blood is blocked or Deficient.
These blockages can result from external factors like injury or exposure to Cold and Dampness, or internal factors such as emotional stress or a Deficiency in Liver or Kidney energies. In TCM, each case of foot pain is unique, and treatment strategies are tailored after a thorough diagnosis to determine the underlying pattern of disharmony causing the pain.
Acupoints for Foot Pain
TCM employs acupuncture as a primary modality to address foot pain, aiming to restore harmony and circulation. The Bladder Channel's Chengjin BL-56 point is a pivotal location for alleviating tension and obstructions in the channel that may contribute to foot and heel pain. By stimulating this point, practitioners aim to relax the sinews, a term in TCM that refers to tendons and ligaments, thereby reducing pain and stiffness.
Another vital point is Zhaohai KID-6 on the Kidney Channel, renowned for its profound effects on nourishing Kidney Yin and clearing heat. This point is often employed for its multifaceted benefits, including soothing the mind, regulating menstrual functions, and addressing throat and eye discomforts, which are often related to the health of the Kidney meridian. Through these points, TCM offers a holistic approach, not only targeting foot pain relief but also promoting the body's natural healing capabilities.
Explore below some acupoints used to address foot pain, organized by meridian.
- By Meridian
- Bladder Channel
- Kidney Channel
- Spleen Channel
Chengjin BL-56
5 cun inferior to Weizhong BL-40 which is the midpoint of the popliteal crease. In the center of the belly of gastrocnemius muscle, midway between Heyang BL-55 and Chengshan BL-57.
Pucan BL-61
Posterior and inferior to the external malleolus, directly below Kunlun BL-60, in the depression of the calcaneum at the junction of the red and white skin.
Zhaohai KID-6
Approximately 1 cun below the medial malleolus tip, over the joint space between the talus and the calcaneus.
Gongsun SP-4
In the depression distal and inferior to the base of the 1st metatarsal bone, at the border of the red and white skin.