Hello readers!

Today let’s talk about an interesting theme: how to treat trigger finger.

Trigger Finger is basically the maintenance of the articulation in an inflected position, due to the affected finger tendon inflammation and stiffness.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, nourishment and good functioning of tendons relies on a good Liver functioning, thus, everytime we are going to treat a patient that suffers from trigger finger, we must tone and nourish the Liver.

For that purpose, I suggest the points: LV3, LV8, GB34 and GB39.

In auriculotherapy, besides the Liver we should also work on points related with the pathology itself, such as Fist, Hand and Hand Fingers points.

In Chinese Diet Therapy, fresh aliments for the Wood Element may be of big help in order to stop inflammation in the joints and interrupting the disease evolution. Some of these foods are: strawberry, chicory, radish, apple, pear, etc…

You can find the complete food chart here: https://www.facilitatingacupuncture.com/therapeutic-food-tables/

When we are treating trigger finger, we also use a category of points named “Baxie Points” these points are located in the fold of each one of finger phalanx, in order to use needles we need to insert it in a subcutaneous matter, adequate needle size being 18x8mm (tsing needles) or even minor needles. Such points, just like others, shall be in the patient body for 20 minutes.

Baxie points, due to them being local treatment points, will help with easing inflammation, nourishing the tissue, pain (case there is any) and also improves movement amplitude. May also be treated with magnets.

In many occasions, trigger fingers are consequences from rheumatic diseases, such as artritis, artrosis, etc…. Those diseases, however, are related to the Kidney, in Chinese Medicine. Therefore, besides all already said protocol, the therapist must protect the patient’s Kidney.

To strengthen Kidney and bones, I suggest the points: KI3, KI7 ,BL52, BL23.

Neutral aliments for Water Element will help slow down the disease. And in auriculotherapy we will use Kidney points, besides the ones previously mentioned.

When trigger finger is diagnosed early, acupuncture has excellent results, not only in a situation improvement but also healing the patient. However, when there is already articulation deformity caused by trigger finger, the treatment is longer, but shall return life quality to the patient even if cure is out of sight.

Let’s treat it?

Hope that this was useful!

A big tight hug!

Profa. Fernanda Mara