Claw Hand is a condition where the hand is stuck in a curved, claw-like position and can’t open fully. How can Chinese Medicine (CM) and acupuncture help with this?
A new patient came to me, scheduled for surgery the following week, hoping I could offer an alternative. In CM, even if multiple patients have the same diagnosis, the root cause can differ, so I took time to assess her specific signs and symptoms. Through palpation and listening to her body, I traced the tension in her hand back to the Pericardium channel, which is linked to the heart and emotional well-being. I began by gently opening the tension with qi, awareness, and slow manipulation of the hand. After about 20 minutes, her hand relaxed from a tight, closed C-shape to nearly flat. I then used acupuncture to release any lingering tension, stagnation, or holding in her arm and hand.
I suggested she return a few days later to reinforce this new pattern of health. When she did, her hand was still about 90% open, and she had canceled her surgery. Over the next few treatments, her hand regained full extension, though there was some lingering stiffness and mild dull pain.
Given her tendency to overwork, I encouraged her to delegate hand-intensive tasks and embrace a more balanced approach to her daily activities. While she took this advice to heart, she still had a habit of pushing herself too hard. The claw hand never returned, though she occasionally came in for maintenance when she overdid it.
Interestingly, I noticed a connection between her physical symptoms and underlying emotional stress, reinforcing why treating the Pericardium channel was effective. This story highlights how, in Chinese Medicine, the origins of a physical condition can be deeper than just the physical body—sometimes, they stem from psychological or emotional patterns that build up over time.
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