A wound is generally considered chronic once it hasn't healed within three months. Venous ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure sores are among the most common types, and they're a growing burden on patients and the healthcare system alike — particularly for people managing diabetes or reduced mobility, where the risk of complications like infection or amputation is significantly higher.
Standard care — dressings, wound cleaning, and antibiotics where needed — remains the foundation of treatment, but healing can be slow, costly, and complicated by antibiotic resistance. This is where Traditional Chinese Medicine may have something useful to add alongside, not instead of, conventional wound care.
The TCM perspective
In TCM terms, chronic wounds are often understood through the patterns of Qi deficiency and Blood stasis — broadly, a lack of the vital energy needed to drive healing, combined with poor local circulation that leaves tissue undernourished. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are used to address both: supporting the body's underlying capacity to heal, and improving blood flow to the affected area.
Case reports and small clinical studies have found this combined approach can support healing in wounds that haven't responded well to standard treatment alone, though it's best considered a complement to your existing wound care team rather than a replacement for it.
If you or someone you know is affected
If a wound hasn't shown real improvement after a few weeks of standard care, it's worth asking your GP or wound care provider whether an integrated approach could help, and getting in touch with us to discuss your specific situation.