Conditions · Other conditions
Acupuncture for Raynaud's
Raynaud's makes the fingers or toes turn white or blue in the cold or with stress, then red and painful as blood returns. Chinese medicine sees it as cold blocking circulation to the hands and feet, and works to warm and move it.
Common symptoms
- Fingers or toes that turn white, then blue, then red in the cold or with stress
- Numbness, tingling or pins and needles during an attack
- Throbbing or pain as the colour comes back
- Cold hands and feet much of the time
- Attacks brought on by cold drinks, air conditioning or the freezer aisle
Common causes
- Blood vessels in the fingers and toes that overreact to cold (primary Raynaud's), often with no clear cause
- Connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma and lupus (secondary Raynaud's)
- Years of using vibrating tools
- Smoking
- Some medicines, such as beta blockers and some migraine and ADHD medicines
How Chinese medicine understands Raynaud’s
In Chinese medicine, cold hands and feet with white or blue fingers is a classic picture of cold blocking the channels. Warmth and Blood are not reaching the ends of the limbs. The questions are why, and whether the problem is mainly too little warmth, or warmth and Blood that are stuck.
The common patterns are:
- Yang deficiency with cold. Cold hands and feet most of the time, feeling the cold more than others, tiredness, and a pale, moist tongue. Attacks come easily in the cold. Treatment warms.
- Blood deficiency with cold. Cold, numb fingers with pale nails, dry skin and sometimes light periods. In this view there is not enough Blood to carry warmth out to the hands.
- Qi and Blood stagnation. Attacks brought on by stress as much as cold, with fingers that go dusky or purple and throb. Treatment moves circulation.
- Liver Qi stagnation. Stress and tension trigger attacks, with irritability and tight shoulders. The hands may be cold while the body is not.
Many people have a mix of these. The pattern decides whether treatment mainly warms, nourishes or moves.
What treatment involves
Your first visit includes a lot of questions: what sets off attacks, which fingers or toes change colour, how long attacks last, your medicines, and your general health. I look at your tongue and take your pulse.
Acupuncture commonly uses points on the hands, arms, feet, legs and back, chosen for your pattern. For cold patterns, moxibustion adds warmth to the points. Treatment aims to support circulation to the hands and feet and ease the stress that can trigger attacks. Chinese herbal medicine is often useful here, as a formula written for you to take daily between visits, dispensed at the clinic in Keswick.
Treatment in the autumn, before the cold sets in, is worth thinking about. Plan on 5–10 treatments to judge progress. Research on acupuncture for Raynaud’s is still developing.
Between visits
- Keep your whole body warm, not only your hands. Wear layers, a hat and warm socks.
- Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves, and use hand warmers in winter.
- Warm up an attack gently with lukewarm water or by tucking your hands in your armpits. Avoid hot water on numb fingers.
- Don’t smoke, and avoid second-hand smoke. It narrows blood vessels.
- Use gloves for the freezer, and hold cold drinks with an insulated cup.
When to see your doctor first
Raynaud’s should be diagnosed by your doctor, who can check whether another condition is behind it. See your doctor promptly if:
- Sores, cracks or ulcers appear on your fingertips or toes. This is urgent.
- A finger or toe stays white, blue or black and does not warm up.
- Attacks started after age 30, or only one or two fingers are affected.
- You have joint pain or swelling, a rash, tight or thickening skin, trouble swallowing, or dry eyes and mouth.
- Attacks are getting more frequent or more painful.
Get medical help urgently for a sudden cold, pale or painful hand or foot that does not recover.
Questions about raynaud's
Is Raynaud's worse in winter here?
Usually, yes. Canadian winters bring more attacks, but air conditioning and cold drinks can bring them on in summer too. That is why keeping your whole body warm matters, not only your hands.
What is moxibustion, and why is it used for Raynaud's?
Moxibustion warms acupuncture points with a burning herb held above the skin or on the handle of a needle. In Chinese medicine, Raynaud's is often a cold pattern, and moxibustion is one of the main ways to warm it.
Can I have treatment if my Raynaud's is linked to scleroderma or lupus?
Treatment can be used as support alongside your rheumatologist's care, with your doctor's knowledge. Keep taking your prescribed medicines, and tell your doctor about any herbs.