ARTHRITIS ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Osteo-arthritis medicine
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 of 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.
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.
Chinese medicine for osteo arthritis includes Mobility 3 by Health Concerns.
HOT BI SYNDROME is diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis
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. Chinese arthritis medicine for this includes Mobility 2 by Health Concerns.
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 and arthritis medicine for Injury.
An excellent topical Chinese arthritis medicine for this is Zheng Gu Shui
CHINESE HERBS USED TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARTHRITIS MEDICINE
Herbs are almost always used in combinations (formulae). Most herbs for arthritis medicine 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
