CHINESE HERBS FOR ARTHRITIS

Arthritis According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Some Research on Chinese Herbs and Arthritis

ARTHRITIS ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Three conditions often diagnosed as arthritis are 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.

Cause of Arthritis # 1, BI SYNDROME

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 which kinds of weather make 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.

Hot bi is usually diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis or gouty arthritis. Putting heat on such an inflamed joint makes it feel worse.

Cold-bi and Damp-bi are usually diagnosed as osteoarthritis. It feels better when heat is applied. Moxabustion is often used.

Damp-Bi syndrome 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.

Cause of Arthritis #2: Liver Not Smoothing the Qi

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. The Chinese diagnosis in these cases are Deficiencies of Liver and Kidney.

Cause of Arthritis #3: Third Stage Injury: See Chinese Herbs for Injury

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CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES USED TO TREAT ARTHRITIS

Medicines commonly used include:

Internal	Bi Syndrome	Deficiency of Liver or Kidney	Old Injury
Internal	Low Back Pills Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan	Chuang Yao Pill Golden Book Pill	China Tung Shui Pills
Topical	Zheng Gu Shui	Zheng Gu Shui	Zheng Gu Shui

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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

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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.

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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.

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