25 Apr 2025
By: Yi TCM Admin
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder is characterised by pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion in the shoulder joint. It can make it difficult to perform daily activities like putting on clothes, scratching your back, or grabbing something on a high shelf. It typically occurs in those aged between 40 and 60, with women at a higher risk than men.
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint where the ball of your upper arm bone, the humerus, connects to a shallow socket in your shoulder blade, the scapula. These two structures are surrounded by thick connective tissue that makes up the shoulder capsule, which holds the joint in place. A frozen shoulder causes inflammation that thickens and stiffens the shoulder capsule, reducing its range of motion and flexibility. It also causes the formation of thick bands of scar tissue (adhesions) that further impair your shoulder joint.
TCM holds a holistic view of healthcare, where an illness results from internal disharmony. These imbalances are interconnected, as illustrated by Yin and Yang, and a deficiency in one or the other can cause various health complications. In the case of a frozen shoulder, TCM views it for the following reasons.
According to TCM, healthy Qi and blood flow are vital to well-being, as both facilitate the body’s inner harmony: Qi flows along meridians in the body and facilitates various bodily functions, while blood nourishes the body’s tissues and organs. External factors such as wind, cold, and dampness (which can stem from poor lifestyle habits) can infiltrate our body, blocking Qi and blood flow, which can cause gradual pain and stiffness in your shoulder. Overusing and underusing your shoulder joint can also cause Qi and blood stagnation over time.
Our kidneys are a vital hub that balances Yin and Yang in the body. They store the vital essence known as Jing, which is needed for our growth and development. A kidney deficiency can adversely affect our well-being and result from poor sleeping and dietary habits, among other things.
The liver regulates blood and Qi circulation throughout your body, and any deficiency can cause blood and Qi stagnation, leading to a frozen shoulder.
Thankfully, TCM is an excellent complementary therapy that can support your well-being. Your TCM practitioner may recommend these treatments to help relieve your pain.
This therapy uses thin, sterilised needles placed at specific acupuncture points (acupoints) to clear internal blockages in your body and promote healthy Qi and blood flow. Acupuncture can give you much-needed pain relief and gradually restore the shoulder joint’s mobility and flexibility. The procedure aims to activate your internal healing mechanisms, reduces inflammation and promote a gradual recovery from the imbalances impairing your shoulder’s health. Learn more about how acupuncture works for pain management.
Tuina shares similar principles to acupuncture by targeting specific acupoints but uses gentle, focused massages instead of needles to stimulate these points. Tuina massage gradually alleviates pain and stiffness in your frozen shoulder by relaxing the shoulder muscles and improving blood circulation to reduce inflammation and promote better recovery outcomes.
This traditional practice uses suction cups placed along your shoulder, pulling your skin and underlying tissues into the cup to promote better circulation, reduce muscle tension, and relieve pain. Your TCM practitioner will prioritise key areas around your shoulder to help hasten your healing and minimise complications.
If your frozen shoulder results from accumulated cold in the shoulder joint, moxibustion is a good way to warm the blocked channels and reinvigorate them to help with healing. The procedure requires careful burning of mugwort leaves placed close to your skin, allowing the warmth of the fire to flow into the shoulder joint and clear up these blockages.
A specially brewed herbal medication can address specific symptoms of a frozen shoulder and promote better recovery outcomes alongside other TCM treatments. Some herbs you may typically be prescribed include:
At Yi TCM, we prioritise your well-being above all else. We provide holistic health care through Eastern and Western medical knowledge and fertility care. Contact us today for a detailed consultation to treat a frozen shoulder and address other conditions. Our highly qualified practitioners will provide suitable treatments and herbal remedies to help with your recovery.
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British Acupuncture Council. (n.d.). Frozen shoulder. Retrieved 18th February 2025 from https://acupuncture.org.uk/fact-sheets/frozen-shoulder/
Kim Y. J. (2021). Acupuncture management for the acute frozen shoulder: A case report. Clinical Case Reports, 9(11), e05055. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.5055
Qin, X., Sun, K., Ao, Y., Liu, J., Wang, M., Deng, Q., Zhong, W., liu, J., Sun, S., Liu, X., Shi, B., Guan, X., Du, S., Zou, J., Wu, C., Chen, F., Fang, Y., Nie, X., Mo, W., … Zhu, L. (2023). Traditional Chinese medicine for Frozen Shoulder: An evidence‐based guideline. Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 16(2), 246–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12530
Valdesolo, F. (2023). Why Does Everyone We Know Have Frozen Shoulder? Retrieved 18th February 2025 from https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a46064597/frozen-shoulder-symptoms/
