Cervical spondylosis is a common and widespread disease, capable of causing paralysis in severe cases. Through years of clinical massage practice, I have observed that combining manual therapy with syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine can improve efficacy, shorten treatment duration, and reduce patient suffering. Below are the commonly encountered types of syndrome differentiation and my experience-based prescriptions.
1. Cold-Damp Obstruction of Meridians Type (commonly seen in cervical spondylosis of neck type and nerve root type): Headache or occipital pain, neck stiffness, limited rotation, aching, numbness, and tingling in one or both shoulders, arms, and fingers; or headache radiating to the upper back, cold and damp skin, aversion to cold, preference for warmth, soft tissue swelling nodules palpable beside the cervical spine. Pale red tongue, thin white coating, fine wiry pulse. Treatment: Warm meridians, activate blood, dispel cold, remove dampness, and relieve pain.
Formula: Chuan Gui Zhi, Qiang Huo, Wei Ling Xian, Qin Jiao, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui Wei, Ge Gen, Tian Ma, Pao Jia Zhu, Chao Shen Qu, Chi Shao.
In the formula, Qiang Huo, Ling Xian, Tian Ma, and Qin Jiao dispel cold and dampness, relieve pain; Chuan Xiong and Tian Ma treat headache. Gui Zhi, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui Wei, Chi Shao, and Pao Jia Zhu warm meridians, activate blood, and unblock meridians; Ge Gen relaxes muscle spasms; Shen Qu strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the stomach; Gan Cao harmonizes all herbs.
2. Qi and Blood Deficiency with Stasis Type (commonly seen in vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis): Dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision or eye pain, general weakness, poor appetite, neck pain, or bilateral shoulder pain. Pale red or pale swollen tongue with tooth marks on the edges. Thin white and moist coating. Deep, fine, weak pulse. Treatment: Tonify qi and blood, awaken the brain, calm the spirit, and activate blood to unblock meridians.
Formula: Tian Ma, Zhi Huang Qi, Zhi Gan Cao, Lu Dang Shen, Chao Bai Zhu, Shu Di, Sha Ren, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Ji Xue Teng.
In the formula, Zhi Huang Qi, Zhi Gan Cao, Lu Dang Shen, and Chao Bai Zhu tonify qi; Shu Di, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, and Dang Gui nourish blood; Tian Ma, Chuan Xiong, and Ji Xue Teng calm the mind, enhance cognition, and activate blood to unblock meridians; Sha Ren regulates qi and harmonizes the stomach.
3. Qi and Yin Deficiency with Stasis Type (commonly seen in vertebral artery and sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis): Recurrent vertigo, severe cases up to dozens of times per day, even when lying down, with spinning vision, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, general weakness, unstable gait, palpitations, shortness of breath, irritability, dry mouth and bitter taste, poor sleep with many dreams, etc. Red tongue, thin white or slightly yellow dry coating, or smooth tongue with no coating, prominent sublingual veins. Deep, fine, rapid or wiry rapid pulse. Treatment: Tonify qi and nourish yin, calm the mind, awaken the brain, and harmonize qi and blood.
Formula: Tian Ma, Chuan Xiong, Hang Ju Hua, Gou Qi Zi, Sha Shen, Zhi Gan Cao, Chao Zao Ren, Chao Bo Zi Ren, Zhi Yuan Zhi, Bai Shao, Dan Shen, Di Long, Ye Jiao Teng.
In the formula, Zhi Gan Cao, Sha Shen, Bai Shao, and Gou Qi Zi tonify qi and nourish yin; Tian Ma, Hang Ju Hua, Chao Zao Ren, Chao Bo Zi Ren, Zhi Yuan Zhi, and Ye Jiao Teng awaken the mind, enhance intelligence, nourish the heart, and calm the spirit; Chuan Xiong, Dan Shen, and Di Long activate blood and unblock meridians to relieve pain.
4. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency with Stasis Type (commonly seen in postoperative sequelae of spinal cord type cervical spondylosis or long-standing cases): Incomplete paralysis of limbs (spastic or flaccid), urinary and fecal incontinence, aversion to cold, preference for warmth, normal or poor appetite. Pale red tongue, thin white or slightly greasy coating, deep, fine, wiry or deep, fine, weak pulse. Treatment: Tonify kidney and spleen, warm meridians, harmonize yang, and strengthen tendons and bones.
Formula: Shu Di, Zao Pi, Pao Gan Jiang, Gui Ban Jiao, Lu Jiao Jiao, Pao Jia Zhu, Bai Jie Zi, Chao Du Zhong, Niu Xi, Huai Shan Yao, Chao Shen Qu, Bai Shao, Chuan Gui Zhi, Rou Gui, Zhi Gan Cao.
In the formula, Shu Di and Chao Du Zhong strengthen the kidney and nourish blood; Lu Jiao Jiao and Gui Ban Jiao enrich essence and marrow, strengthen tendons and bones; Zao Pi nourishes liver and kidney, consolidates and stops leakage; Chuan Gui Zhi and Rou Gui warm meridians and harmonize yang; Pao Gan Jiang, Huai Shan Yao, Zhi Gan Cao, and Chao Shen Qu strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach, warm yang, and tonify qi; Bai Jie Zi removes phlegm and resolves nodules; Pao Jia Zhu softens hardness, resolves nodules, and unblocks meridians.
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