Supporting Arthritis, Inflammation, and Chronic Pain with Chinese Medicine

Inflammation is part of the body’s natural defence, helping us heal from injury or infection.

But when it becomes chronic, as in arthritis, tendonitis, or persistent muscle and joint pain, it can wear down the body, leading to stiffness, fatigue, and loss of mobility.

Chinese Medicine offers a holistic and complementary perspective. Instead of targeting symptoms alone, it seeks to understand why inflammation arises, exploring circulation, stress, digestion, and energetic balance.

Through acupuncture and related therapies, it helps the body find its own way back to equilibrium.

Common Conditions Linked to Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation can manifest in many ways, from arthritis and bursitis to tendonitis, frozen shoulder, or calcific deposits that limit joint movement. 

People may experience:

Persistent joint pain or stiffness

Swelling and warmth in affected areas

Limited range of motion

Fatigue and muscular tightness

Sensitivity to cold, damp, or weather changes

Each presentation reflects a different internal imbalance, which is why treatment is always tailored individually.

How Acupuncture Supports the Body’s Natural Healing

Acupuncture gently regulates the nervous system and stimulates the body’s innate healing response. 

Research shows it can:

• Encourage natural endorphin and anti-inflammatory responses

• Improve circulation and tissue repair

• Reduce muscle tension and joint stiffness

• Balance immune and nervous system activity

• Support emotional well-being and relaxation

In many cases, people notice:

• Easier movement and flexibility

• Better sleep and less fatigue

• Reduced frequency and intensity of flare-ups

Acupuncture works harmoniously alongside medical treatment, complementing physiotherapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments.

Understanding Inflammation from a Chinese Medicine Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, inflammation is often linked to Heat, Dampness, and stagnation of Qi and Blood.

These terms describe internal dynamics rather than simple diagnoses, ways of understanding how the body’s flow and balance have been disrupted.

Where modern medicine describes immune reactions, Traditional Chinese Medicine interprets inflammation as the body’s attempt to rebalance itself, an effort that sometimes gets “stuck” in a loop.

Typical underlying patterns include:

Heat – redness, burning sensations, swelling, restlessness.

Dampness – heaviness, stiffness, or swelling that worsens in humid weather.

Qi and Blood Stagnation – sharp or fixed pain, worse with rest or at night.

Deficiency – fatigue, weakness, slow recovery, recurring inflammation.

Chinese Medicine sees inflammation as a signal, not merely a symptom, calling for restoration of flow and balance. 

Through acupuncture, herbal support, and mindful lifestyle adjustments, it helps the body ease pain, move freely, and restore inner harmony.

Used alongside medical care, it offers a path to comfort, vitality, and long-term well-being.

🌿 Other Supportive Methods in Chinese Medicine

 Herbal Support

Chinese herbs are often used to clear inflammation, nourish the joints, and restore circulation. They are prescribed according to the person’s constitution and the pattern of imbalance.

Moxibustion — With Careful Use

Moxibustion uses gentle heat from burning moxa near acupuncture points to warm and invigorate the body.

It is particularly helpful in cases where cold or stagnation contributes to pain, such as chronic stiffness, old injuries, or arthritic pain that improves with warmth.

However, not all inflammation benefits from heat. If there are signs of Heat, such as redness, swelling, or acute flare-ups, I don’t use the moxibustion.

The key is precision: knowing when warmth helps, and when the body needs cooling and circulation instead.

Auriculotherapy (Ear Acupuncture)

By stimulating microsystems on the ear, auriculotherapy helps calm inflammation, reduce pain signals, and regulate the immune system, often used alongside acupuncture for chronic

conditions.

Cupping & Gua Sha

These manual techniques help release muscle tension, improve circulation, and disperse stagnation, especially effective for frozen shoulder, neck stiffness, or tendinitis.

Cupping can also help loosen tight fascia, improve mobility, and reduce inflammation over time by encouraging lymphatic drainage and microcirculation.

Supporting the Body and Mind

Inflammation is not only physical, it’s influenced by stress, emotions, and lifestyle.

Chinese Medicine sees the mind and body as one network; calming the nervous system is often key to reducing pain and swelling.

Deep Breathing

Practicing slow, mindful breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s “rest and repair” mode. This reduces inflammatory stress hormones and helps muscles release tension.

Gentle Movement

Low-impact activities like Qi Gong, Tai Chi, or mindful stretching maintain circulation and joint flexibility without aggravating inflammation.

Balanced Diet

A diet aligned with TCM principles supports digestive and metabolic balance:

Favor warm, cooked foods like soups and steamed vegetables.

Include ginger, turmeric, and green vegetables for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Limit refined sugar, fried foods, and cold or raw meals during flare-ups.

Stay hydrated with warm water or mild herbal teas (ginger, chamomile, or mint depending on your constitution).

Rest and Emotional Balance

Chronic pain and stress often feed each other. Restorative sleep, regular relaxation, and time in nature can help calm internal “heat” and improve resilience.

Mind–Body Connection and Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is closely tied to the nervous and immune systems. When stress hormones such as cortisol remain high for too long, inflammatory pathways become overactive. 

Acupuncture and deep breathing help calm this response, restoring equilibrium to both body and mind.

Neuroscientific studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulate pain perception centers in the brain, which helps explain its calming and anti-inflammatory effects.

How I can help you - Some experiences to share with you;

In my practice, I often see people with chronic joint pain, tendonitis, or frozen shoulder, who feel limited by daily discomfort.

Others come with long-term inflammation from arthritis or post-injury recovery.

I combine acupuncture, auriculotherapy, cupping, and sometimes moxibustion (when warmth is indicated). Each treatment is adapted to the person’s condition, season, and energy.

Over time, most patients notice:

Less morning stiffness and pain.

Greater mobility.

Deeper, more restorative sleep.

Improved mood and vitality.

Several individuals with shoulder and neck inflammation (including frozen shoulder and calcification) reported greater mobility and fewer flare-ups after regular acupuncture and cupping sessions.

People with tendonitis or bursitis noticed that combining auriculotherapy with local points improved circulation and reduced inflammation.

People managing chronic arthritis or hip pain described improved flexibility and energy after balancing sessions that focused on moving Qi and calming the nervous system.

Research and References

• Kim, H. W., et al. (2019). Effects of acupuncture on cytokine modulation and inflammation-related biomarkers. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 331, 60–71.

• Lee, J. H., et al. (2020). Acupuncture for chronic pain and inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Medicine, 21(4), 775–788.

• Zijlstra, F. J., et al. (2003). Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture. Mediators of Inflammation, 12(2), 59–69.

• Vickers, A. J., et al. (2018). Acupuncture for chronic pain: Individual patient data meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine, 178(11), 1444–1453.