Moxibustion Treatment

With the rise of mobile internet nowadays, people are constantly checking their phones, which inevitably leads to overuse and strain of the wrists and fingers, causing wrist pain, medically known as tendinitis. Occupations that require long-term repetitive strain on joints, such as typists, instrumentalists, cargo handlers, or industries that require prolonged computer operation, can all trigger or exacerbate this condition. Common affected areas include the wrists, fingers, and shoulders. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes it is caused by blood stasis and cold congealing.

Trigger finger, also known as "trigger finger" or "snapping finger," is a type of tendinitis that mainly manifests as localized pain on the palmar side of the metacarpophalangeal joint, with significant tenderness, and sometimes a nodule the size of a green pea can be felt. There is a snapping sound when flexing and extending the fingers, and the nodule moves up and down accordingly.

When there is an obstruction in flexing the finger, the inflammation causes the tendon sheath to narrow and the tendon to thicken, and a snapping sound can be heard when forcefully pushing the finger. Another location for tendinitis is at the radial styloid process, where patients feel pain on the radial side of the wrist, weakness in lifting objects, and worsening with cold or exertion. When the wrist is deviated ulnarly in a fist position, it causes pain at the affected site. There is tenderness between the radial styloid process and the base of the first metacarpal bone, and some patients have slight swelling in the area, with pain radiating to the hand and forearm.

It is recommended to perform moxibustion once a day, targeting 2 to 3 acupoints each time, with each acupoint being treated for 30 to 40 minutes.   Rotate the points treated, with a 10-day period constituting one course of treatment, and then rest for 2 to 3 days before continuing with the next course.

(If time permits and there is a need, more acupoints can be treated with moxibustion.   The specific duration should be adjusted according to one's own physical needs.)