Carpal Tunnel Syndrome belongs to the category of “paralysis” in Chinese medicine, the cause of which is mostly damage to the tendons and meridians of the wrist caused by wind-cold invasion or localized acute or chronic strain injury, stagnation of qi and blood, obstruction of the meridians, and pain when there is no circulation, which manifests itself as pain and unfavorable flexion and extension of the tendons and meridians; and the loss of the tendons and meridians to be moistened will result in fatigue and numbness.
Based on the above causes, dredging meridians and channels, activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis are the principles of Chinese medicine in treating paralysis. Acupuncture and moxibustion is the use of needles or moxibustion on the body’s acupuncture points, through the role of meridians, so as to achieve the purpose of treatment of disease. Acupuncture and moxibustion have the function of supporting the positive and eliminating the evil (supporting the positive energy and eliminating the evil energy), harmonizing the yin and yang, dredging the meridians, and adjusting the function of internal organs, etc. Therefore, acupuncture and moxibustion can alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel.
Therefore, acupuncture can relieve the pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, but acupuncture is only an auxiliary effect, and surgery is still needed when necessary.