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CHINESE HERBS and CHINESE MEDICINE
FOR ARTHRITIS
Arthritis According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Herbal Medicines for Arthritis
Single Herbs Used for Arthritis
Some Research on Chinese Herbs and Arthritis
Acupuncture Acupressure and Arthritis
Herbal consultations by e-mail
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E-MAIL CONSULTATIONS
ARTHRITIS ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Osteo-arthritis according to TCM
Three conditions often diagnosed as osteo-arthritis are Cold or Damp Bi-Syndrome, Liver Not Smoothing the Qi , and Third Stage Injuries. These conditions all obstruct flow in the joints and can cause calcification and joint pain. Treating arthritis effectively with Chinese herbs requires diagnosing which of these conditions are the probable causes of the "arthritis", then choosing the correct course of treatment. Diagnosis is made according to the four examinations. By far the most common of these conditions is Cold or Damp Bi-Syndrome.
COLD DAMP BI SYNDROME Causes Osteo Arthritis
Bi-syndrome, indicates that our defensive energy (wei qi) has become weak, allowing atmospheric conditions to penetrate our bodies, obstructing flow and causing pain or stiffness. If your arthritis is sensitive to the weather, you likely have bi-syndrome. Four kinds are recognized depending on what makes symptoms worse. Hot bi, cold bi, damp bi, and windy bi. Treatment involves expelling and countering the pathogenic influence, relieving pain, and boosting the Wei Qi.
Acupuncture works for this condition, but if you feel good when heat is applied, moxabustion is will be even more effective.
This condition often gets worse when the weather gets damp. When sufferers go to a warm dry climate, they often feel better.
Windy-Bi acts like the wind. Pain migrates around the body. Like the wind, it can spring up and subside quickly. Last week it was shoulder pain, this week the knees hurt.
HOT BI SYNDROME is diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthrits
Hot bi is usually diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis or gouty arthritis. Putting heat on such an inflamed joint makes it feel worse. Though acupuncture can be useful, it is no cure for this. Chinese herbal medicine may provide a more satisfactory method of long term treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
LIVER NOT SMOOTHING THE QI can be diagnosed as rheumatoid or osteo-arthritis
A function of the "Liver ", in Chinese medicine, is to insure the smoothness of flow. When damage to this organ occurs, its ability to insure smooth flow may be impaired. Since the Liver also governs the joints and tendons, various Liver patterns can result in pain in the joints and tendons. Longterm patterns of stagnation will turn hot. When heat occurs, this condition can be diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. The Chinese diagnosis in these cases include Deficiencies of Liver and Kidney as well as Liver Qi and Blood Stagnation.
OLD INJURIES are another cause of arthritis
Acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine all play vital roles in the treatment of injury and trauma. See Chinese Herbs for Injury
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES USED TO TREAT ARTHRITIS
Medicines commonly used include:
| Internal | Bi Syndrome |
Deficiency of Liver or Kidney |
Old Injury |
| Topical |
SINGLE HERBS USED TO TREAT ARTHRITIS
Herbs are almost always used in combinations (formulae). Most substances used to counter bi-syndrome (arthritis) belong to the category Herbs to Expell Wind and Damp. Commonly used are:
WHITE PATTERNED SNAKE - AGKISTRODON - BAI HUA SHE
DUHUO ROOT - ANGELICAE PUBESCENS RADIX - DU HUO
SEA PAULOWNIA BARK - ERYTHRINAE CORTEX - HAI TONG PI
PAPAYA - CHAENOMELIS FRUCTUS - MU GUA
SILKWORM EXCREMENT - BOMBYCIS FAECES - CAN SHA
GENTIAN ROOT - GENTIANAE MACROPHYLLAE - QIN JIAO
CHINESE CLEMATIS ROOT - CLEMATIDIS RADIX - WEI LING XIAN
WHITE OR RED PEONY ROOT - PEONEA ALBA OR RUBRA - BAI SHAO OR CHI SHAO
ACUPUNCTURE, ACUPRESSURE, AND MOXIBUSTION FOR ARTHRITIS
Acupuncture and acupressure massage can both be extremely helpful in treating all conditions called arthritis. Both of these modalities can aggressively promote the movement of qi and blood to relieve pain and promote normalcy.
Moxibustion (heat treatment) is extremely beneficial in treating cold conditions such as cold bi, damp bi, and third stage injuries. It is NOT appropriate in hot conditions such as when a joint appears red or feels warm to the touch, or in cases of rhumatoid arthritis.
Herbal consultations by e-mail
CHINESE MEDICINE AND ARTHRITIS RESEARCH
Osteoarthrosis of the Knee by Christensen BV; Iuhl IU; Vilbek H; Bulow HH; Dreijer NC; Rasmussen HF. Acupuncture treatment of severe knee osteoarthrosis. A long-term study. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavia, 1992 Aug, 36(6):519-25. (UI: 92383960) Pub type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial. AT: UCLA siomed W1 AC7175 (PE title: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavia.)
Abstract: PURPOSE: Acupuncture treatment of patients waiting for arthroplasty surgery. METHODS: 29 patients with osteoarthritic knees were randomized to two groups. Group A was treated while Group B served as a no-treatment control group. After 9 weeks Group B was treated too. Analgesic consumption, pain and objective measurements were registered. All objective measures were done by investigators who were "blinded" as to Group A & B. In the second part of the study 17 patients (26 knees) continued with treatments once a month. Registration of analgesic consumption, pain and objective measurements continued. Total study period 49 weeks.
RESULTS: Comparing Group A to B there was a significant reduction in pain, analgesic consumption and in most objective measures. In Group A + B combined there was an 80% subjective improvement, and a significantly increased knee range movement - an increase mainly in the worst knees. Results were significantly better in those who had not been ill for a long time. In the second part of the study, it was shown that it was possible to maintain the improvements.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture can ease the discomfort while waiting for an operation and perhaps even serve as an alternative to surgery. Seven patients have responded so well that at present they do not want an operation. (USD 9000 saved per operation).
Rheumatoid Arthritis by Xiao J; Liu X; Sun L; Ying S; Zhang Z; Li Q; Li H; Zhang Z; Jin B; Wang S. [Experimental study on the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on interleukin-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. Chen Tzu Yen Chiu Acupuncture Research, 1992, 17(2):126-8, 132. Language: Chinese. (UI: 93169756) Pub type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial.
Abstract: In order to observe the effects of the treatment of RA with acupuncture and moxibustion, 41 patients were divided into warming needle and point injection groups at random, and 19 healthy subjects as control group. IL-2 levels were measured. Generally, IL-2 is considered as a very important signal for regulating immune response. The results showed that the IL-2 levels in two RA groups before treatment were obviously lower than that in control group (P 0.05). After treatment the IL-2 level in control group was unchanged, but increased considerably in two RA groups (P 0.01).
Our results have shown that the decrease of IL-2 in patients with RA should be one of main causes of internal environment disorder, acupuncture and moxibustion as a stress stimulation exerts an influence on the immunity system through neuroendocrine system to improve the IL-2 production.
| Information on this site is provided for educational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. Shen Herb Inc.makes no claims as to efficacy or safety of products appearing on this site. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. |
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