Neck Pain

頸部酸痛 / 颈部酸痛

Discomfort or stiffness in the neck region.

Quick Facts

Health Topic	Pain & Mobility
Also Known As	Neck ache, Sore neck, Stiff neck, Cervical discomfort, Pain in the neck
Common Symptoms	Pain, stiffness or aching in the neck, sometimes extending to the upper back or shoulders. Turning the head may be limited, and symptoms can worsen after screen work, poor sleep posture or exposure to wind. A pulling or tight sensation is common.
Related TCM Patterns	Wind-Cold · Blood Stasis · Phlegm-Dampness · Phlegm-Heat · Dampness
Related Classical Formulas	Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang · Ge Gen Tang · Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang · Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang · San Zhong Kui Jian Tang · Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang

Neck Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, neck pain in the current set is associated with Wind-Cold patterns, especially when stiffness of the nape is prominent. Differentiation looks at whether there are exterior signs and whether Ge Gen–type presentations with rigid upper back are present. Classical formulas are matched to this pattern context rather than to neck pain alone. Accompanying signs such as tongue appearance, pulse quality and the presence of heat or cold help distinguish one presentation from another.

TCM Patterns Associated With Neck Pain

The same presentation may be understood through more than one pattern. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying signs, not the symptom on its own.

Pattern	Common Features	Related Formulas
Wind-Cold風寒證Exterior Patterns	Chills that outweigh the fever, no sweating, a stuffy or runny nose with clear discharge, an itchy or scratchy throat rather than a sore one, body aches, and a cough with thin white phlegm. Symptoms often start abruptly after exposure to cold or wind. Tongue with a thin white coating; pulse floating and tight.	Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang Ge Gen Tang
Blood Stasis血瘀證Stagnation Patterns	Fixed, stabbing or piercing pain that does not move freely, often worse at night or with pressure. The complexion may look darker or purplish, and in women the menstrual flow can be dark with clots. Lips or nails may appear dusky. Tongue dark or with purple spots or congested veins under the tongue; pulse choppy or wiry and hesitant.	Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Phlegm-Dampness痰濕證Phlegm Patterns	Copious white or sticky phlegm, a heavy chest or head, and a greasy tongue coating. There may be nausea, poor appetite, and a foggy or heavy mental feeling that worsens in damp weather or after rich food. Coughing brings up phlegm that is hard to clear completely. Tongue pale with a thick greasy white coating; pulse slippery.	Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang
Phlegm-Heat痰熱證Phlegm Patterns	Yellow or sticky phlegm that is hard to expectorate, chest tightness, and a sense of heat or restlessness. There may be a bitter taste, thirst, and constipation or dark urine when heat is marked. Cough can be forceful with a rattling sound. Tongue red with a yellow greasy coating; pulse slippery and rapid.	San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Dampness濕阻證Damp Patterns	A heavy, sluggish body feeling, abdominal fullness, sticky sensation in the mouth, and reduced appetite. Stools may be sticky or incomplete, and the person often feels worse in humid weather. There can be oedema of the limbs or a greasy facial sheen. Tongue with a thick greasy white coating; pulse soft or slippery.	Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang