Scapulo-dorsal pain is a condition characterized by soreness and pain in the shoulder and upper back area. Patients may experience discomfort, a feeling of heaviness in the back, and the pain can be dull, cold, or stabbing. Generally, the pain intensifies with activity and alleviates with rest. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, scapulo-dorsal pain falls under the category of "Bi Syndrome." It is believed that after the body is affected by external cold evils, these evils obstruct the shoulder and upper back area. The nature of cold is to constrict, leading to impaired circulation of qi and blood in the shoulder and upper back, causing the area to lose the nourishment of blood and qi, resulting in pain. Alternatively, pain may occur due to blood and qi stagnation following trauma, or due to deficiency of qi and blood from old age or overwork, leading to the lack of nourishment of the muscles and meridians, and manifesting as this condition.
Cold-Evil Obstruction Type: There is a cold pain in the shoulder and upper back area, which worsens with cold and alleviates with warmth. Pain also intensifies during cold and cloudy weather; the tongue is pale, with a thin white coating, and the pulse is tight.
Stasis-Blood Obstruction Type: There is often a history of injury from sprains or impacts in the shoulder and upper back area, characterized by sharp, stabbing pain that worsens with pressure, and visible bruising; the tongue may have petechiae, and the pulse is unsmooth.
Qi and Blood Deficiency Type: There is a dull ache in the shoulder and upper back area; patients exhibit shortness of breath and reluctance to speak, prefer quiet, and dislike activity, with pain intensifying upon movement; the tongue is pale, with a thin white coating, and the pulse is thin.
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.)
1. Patients with frequent pain in the shoulder and upper back area should pay attention to rest, prevent excessive fatigue of the shoulder and upper back during office work and study, and keep the shoulder and upper back warm at night. 2. External application method: 250 grams of salt or sand, heated in the microwave for 2 minutes, wrapped in a cloth and applied to the affected area for 20 minutes, once a day.