Herbal Therapy
1) Internal Medicine
(1) Syndrome of stagnation of qi and blood
Therapeutic methods: Promoting blood flow to remove the stasis, activating qi flow to stop pain.
Recipe and herbs: Modified Huoxue Decoction.
(2) Syndrome of collateral disharmony
Therapeutic methods: Relaxing tendons and activating collaterals.
Recipe and herbs: Modified Huoxue Shujin
2) External Medicine
External therapy: Dingtong Paste may be externally applied; or Haitongpi Decoction is used to fumigate and wash the diseased parts.
(2) Restoring and treating injured soft tissues Therapy
First, massage and grasping-kneading manipulation are performed on the painful points and region around the elbow for 3 to 5 minutes so that the local areas become slightly hot and blood flows smoothly. Then the operator, holding the medial side of the sick elbow with one hand and the sick wrist with the other hand, first extends and flexes the elbow joint several times, then makes it quickly flex several times, and rotates simultaneously. If the elbow is in a supination position when it is straightened out, pronation will be performed; and if the elbow is in a pronation position when it is straightened out, supination will be performed. Each movement is done for 3 to 5 times so as to resolve adhesion and relieve pain. Continue to read Chinese medicine Treatment for Tennis Elbow.
(3) Small needle-knife Therapy
The patient keeps his sick elbow extended. After routine disinfection and local anesthesia, the doctor plucks the brachioradial muscle at the tuberosity of radius outward with his thumb of left hand. Then, along the medial side of the brachioradial muscle, he stabs a small needle-knife deep into the synovial bursa and bone surface of brachioradial joint. After 2 or 3 times of incision decollement, the knife is withdrawn. The open wound is covered with sterilized gauze. Finally, the patient is asked to flex and extend his sick elbow joint several times. This method is suitable for obstinate lateral humeral epicondylitis.
(4) Acupuncture Therapy
Electronic-needling
1) Points selected: Common point: Ashi Points; Point stand-by: Shousanli (LI 10 ) and Chize (LU5).
2) Manipulation: There are two points of the Ashi Points; one is located on the sunken area on the leading edge of the lateral epicondyle of shoulder bone; the other is located on the sunken area on the trailing edge of the lateral epicondyle of shoulder bone; both points are selected for each time; the former is needled vertically with 1 cun long filiform needle; the latter is needled with an angle of 45 degree while the wrist back is needled from the right middle of the lateral epicondyle of shoulder bone; the Shousanli (LI 10 ) can be added for the restriction of the forearm rotating forward and the Chize (LU5) can be added for the forearm rotating backwards; all the points are needled by common methods; the reducing technique is taken by lifting-in-serting for 1 minutes after pricking for qi; then the electric acupuncture apparatus is used with continuous wave and a frequency of 300 times a minute and its intensity should according to the tolerance of patients; take the treatment every another day and 10 times is a course of treatment; and there are 5-7 days between two courses.
Moxibustion
1) Points selected: Common point: Ashi Points (The most obvious tenderness); Point stand-by: Taixi (KI3).
2) Manipulation: Moxibustion is taken on the common points and the needle point method is taken on the points stand-by. Moxibustion: Drug moxibustion is taken; take equal amounts of flos Caryophylli and cinnamon; grind them into the powder and mix them up; the mixture is called Dinggui Powder; wash the fresh ginger clean and cut it into the slices with 2 millimeter thickness; and there are 6-7 holes on the center of the sliced ginger which are pricked by the triangle-edged needle; drop a little of Dinggui powder on the Ashi Points with an even depth; cover it with the sliced ginger; then a moxa cone which is large as an peanut is taken on the sliced ginger until the burning sensation cannot be stand; change with another moxa cone and 3-5 cones are used continuously till the regional skin is reddish; the Taixi is needled vertically with a needle tip upward a little till a sore sensation is gained; then swirling-rotating for 1-2 minutes and keep the needles in place for 20 minutes; take the treatment once every day and 7 times is a course of treatment; and there are 3 days between two courses.
